Vintage 2016 — Paroles de vignerons - Vinparleur

Santa Duc 2016 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape : Between the Rhône and the Sky

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

It’s fairly rare for nature to exceed winemakers’ expectations two years in a row, but this was the case in the Rhone Valley with the 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Almost as if 2016 had taken the previous vintage as a yardstick and then attempt to surpass it and reach out for perfection. With a mild winter, a wet spring and a hot summer, 2016 was moderate from a meteorological point of view.But this moderation proved to be the perfect catalyst for a slow and steady ripening of the grapes which were rich, juicy and highly aromatic when they were harvested. The origin of their immense quality lay in the maturity of the skins and pips, source of tannins, but above all in their extraordinary levels of acidity which gave elegance and delicacy to the wines. Bottled at the beginning of Autumn, the wines of this vintage are distinctive for their richness and remarkable longevity.

Habemus Papam 2016
Exuberantly fragrant as is its wont, Habemus Papam seduces, evidently, with its rich, spicy fruit, but above all with its slightly herbaceous, fresh character, all in notes of camphor and blackcurrant. Juicy, with an opulent softness in the mouth, its tannins are as yet still young and powerful, although showing rectitude and balance.

Les Saintes Vierges 2016
Lightness and fluidity are the watchwords of this plot. Deliciously delicate, its aromas oscillate between sweet cherry, cocoa, and lightly caramelized hazelnuts, as well as a lovely floral touch. It shows an amazing persistence carried by the finesse of its tannins….

Le Pied de Baud 2016
Serious and imperturbable, this wine draws its self-assurance from the power and finesse of its tannins, associated with a finely balanced mineral acidity. Delightfully spicy, as if infused with the fragrance of the undergrowth of the woods around the vineyard, with fruit as bright and pure as the climate, and a structure swathed in soft contours like the gentle outline of the hills of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Truly a child of the terroir.

La Crau Ouest 2016
Complex aromas take their time to open to reveal ripe black fruit, warm spices, and freshly cut wood. In the mouth, it is suave and full, with tight but extremely well-integrated tannins. This perfectly balanced wine offers up powerful flavors and a promising array of aromas. Good ageing potential.
Another “coup de cœur” for Pierre Cros and his wines in the French Wine Guide Hachette 2019

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

Minervois Vieilles Vignes 2016
A hundred-year-old Carignan, bottled as a single vineyard selection, is the origin of this “magic potion”, which brings the winemaker his 10^th “Coup de Cœur” in our wine guide. Our tasters have taken a lot of time to study the beguiling scent of cassis, spices, hints of vanilla and flowers. The well-controlled tannin extraction and perfect barrel ageing bring in some roasted notes, which combine well with the light aroma of plum eau-de-vie. Its soft, silky structure is full of finesse and elegance and is integrated into the round and complex aromas on the finish.

Minervois Les Aspres 2016
Made from old Syrah vines, this cuvée is responsible for most of the “Coup de Cœur” of this winery (8 in total), even though the Vieilles Vignes benefit from an extra dose of seductive power in this issue. However, we weren’t less impressed by its density and structure, as well as by the warm vanilla and forest fruit flavours. Twelve months of oak barrel ageing have given him powerful tannins and a solid consistency, giving this wine a great ageing potential ...
Santa Duc Gigondas 2016 - a magical vintage...

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

It’s fairly rare for nature to exceed winemakers’ expectations two years in a row, but this was the case in the Rhone Valley with the 2015 and 2016 vintages. Almost as if 2016 had taken the previous vintage as a yardstick and then attempt to surpass it and reach out for perfection. With a mild winter, a wet spring and a hot summer, 2016 was moderate from a meteorological point of view.

But this moderation proved to be the perfect catalyst for slow and steady ripening of the grapes which were rich, juicy and highly aromatic when they were harvested. The origin of their immense quality lay in the maturity of the skins and pips, source of tannins, but above all in their extraordinary levels of acidity which gave elegance and delicacy to the wines. Bottled at the beginning of Autumn, the wines of this vintage are distinctive for their richness and remarkable longevity.

Aux Lieux-Dits 2016
A feisty wine, with full, intense aromas overflowing with delectable fruit and exotic spices, and a soaring, crunchy acidity in the mouth that carries this rich, juicy wine to its absolutely magnificent finish. Exuberant and intense, it respires the minerality of the terroir, enveloped in the generosity of the Mediterranean vineyards.

Clos Derrière Vieille 2016
The mineral, lightly smoky nose is especially captivating for its bewitching bouquet of ripe fruit and cherry blossom. Mineral, vibrant and energetic in the mouth, this wine sets its course resolutely towards an almost infinite finish. Its saline, suave character and its floral aromatic register nuanced with green tea and fresh fruit, offer an exquisite surprise for the taste-buds.

Les Hautes Garrigues 2016
Filled with the same energy that seems to inhabit the other wines of Gigondas in this vintage, this wine emphasizes its Mediterranean origins with great poise. Offering a sumptuous expression of aromas from scrubland herbs, through orchard fruit to a market stall of exotic spices, the palate is nevertheless focussed on elegance and purity of architecture, structured by tight tannins.
#Carignan is capable of anything - believe me!

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

Mainly grown in the Mediterranean wine regions of France and Spain, this old grape variety already belongs for a long time to the top 10 of the most planted grape varieties in the world. Like other famous grape varieties, such as Pinot or Grenache, it comes in different varieties: red, grey and white. Carignan wines therefore also carry different colors: white, rosé and red, with the latter dominating. Made from very old, middle-aged or young vineyards (as people are replanting Carignan for some years now!), the wines offer a wide range of styles. Carignan is actually a real “terroir grape” that reacts with great sensitivity to the soil and the environment.

And here we have a real terroir Carignan, the “Vieilles Vignes 2016” from my friend Pierre Cros. The faithful readers of this blog already know him ... At the same time pioneer and conservator, he has a true love for the old Carignan vines (some well over 100 years old) he inherited from his grandparents. Oh, he also loves other grape varieties, as proves the great diversity of variatals he cultivates in his vineyards of the Minervois: Nebbiolo, Syrah and Cinsault, Aramon, Picpoul noir and Touriga nacional, Vermentino, Grenache blanc, gris and noir ... Just to name a few.

But back to his 100% Carignan wine: Produced by the method of carbonic maceration, it shows an explosive and intense blend of red fruit, spices and the scent of fresh plants and herbs. Very seductive. Soft and fresh on the palate, with fine but well-structured tannins that give the wine a lot of juiciness and length. Great grape, great vintage, great wine! An excellent example of the fact that good wine is created in teamwork: A successful collaboration between the grape varieties and locations, the vintage and the winemaker.

Open it now and enjoy it with grilled duck breast or leave it in the cellar for a few more years.
In Belgium they love #Malbec in a natural way @LeCedreCahors

Permalink, by Château du Cèdre

Cahors Extra Libre 2016
A fine perfume of cassis, blackberries and blueberries mixed with yellow peach and mango. A touch of iris and daffodil flowers gives the wine an elegant, floral character. On the palate, it is a true delicacy: fresh fruit juice from the nose-scented fruits, enriched with lemon peel and white pepper. Playful tannins make the fruits even crisper, changing the palate into an explosion of fresh fruits, quenching the thirst of the deeply impressed taste buds. An extremely lively wine, whose delicate fruit immediately convinces.

Extra Libre Le Cèdre 2015
On the nose, fresh bread, with delicate marmalade of raspberries, cassis and strawberries, still refined by some floral scent. Spicy scents of black pepper, cardamom and anise complete the picture. The palate is dense, young tannins in the foreground, but surrounded by fresh, soft juiciness. Still a bit closed, the wine already offers a clear sketch of its complexity.

In vino Veritas Belgium - February 2018
And what to do if you can’t decide between vineyards and sea?

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

Quite simply: Drink wine from Pierre Cros! The talented and visionary winegrower from the Minervois prevented our tormenting choice when he created his cuvée “Entre la Vigne et la Mer” (between the vineyards and the sea) years ago, inspired by the rhymes of a local young rapper named TOAN. A sleek yet efficient blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre, terroir and hip hop, a truly modern and universal wine.

After first offering an intense, down-to-earth bouquet of black currants, sour cherries and a hint of forest scent, he plunges unexpectedly into the freshness of the sea, coming up with salty, smoky and mint-like aromas on the palate. Tannins are still young and grippy, but they are well accompanied by an energyzing acidity and smoothness. A wine that opens your appetite and quenches your thirst!

Several years of cellaring will make this somewhat boisterous Languedoc surfer a wise, Jack London-worthy sea-wolf. So whether you enjoy it young or after a few years of ageing is ultimately more a matter of taste and style. However, you should definitely enjoy it, because this wine is really good!

FOOD MATCHES FOR HERBIVORES: definitely root vegetables for this “Roots wine”: roasted in a pan, grilled or baked in the oven ... with Parmesan cheese, goat cheese and roasted onions. And you really need a sauce that you can dunk with a toasted slice of fresh bread!

FOOD MATCHES FOR CARNIVORES: A lamb shoulder in the oven, with herbs, garlic, black olives and fried potatoes.
Game of Terroirs - Les Quatre Terres 2016 by Santa Duc

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

Only few wine regions illustrate the art of blending as well as the southern Rhône Valley. Particularly rich in grape varieties (the Côtes du Rhône appellation allows the cultivation of not less than 21 red and white grape varieties), the region is also characterized by a complex geology and a varieting topography, especially on the eastern edge of the valley. It is in this area, in the vicinity of Rasteau, Roaix, Vacqueyras and Séguret, that the vineyards of Yves and Benjamin Gras build the cornerstone of this cuvée.

An assemblage dominated by Grenache, supplemented by Syrah and Mourvèdre, wherein one also finds a small proportion of Carignan, Cinsault and Clairette. In fact, this testifies to the age of the vines and the vineyards: In addition to the main grape variety, you will often find up to 5 or 10 percent of different vines in old, Mediterranean vineyards, which were planted as a mixed set. A source of aromatic variety in wine that should not be underestimated!

The result is very tasty and gives a fresh and sunny Côtes du Rhône. While the bouquet seduces above all with fragrances of red fruits and cherry blossoms, the palate comes up with fresh strawberry jam and black pepper. Soft, crisp and lively in taste, with just as much tannin and Mediterranean warmth, that it pulls you right to the table. An honest, southern cuisine is the perfect accompaniment: liver pâté with thyme and pistachios, spicy ratatouille vegetables, grilled fish or meat, goat and sheep’s cheese with olive oil ...

Happy taste buds guaranteed!
Château du Cèdre Cahors Extra Libre 2016 - Free as a bird!

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

This sulphur-free, natural wine celebrates its third birthday with the 2016 vintage and shows quite a character for its young years. Fresh berries like raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants prevail in the nose, while a hint of lemon peel and black pepper give heaps of energy to the bouquet. It furthermore expresses the entire exuberance that characterizes the 2016 vintage in Cahors and elsewhere in France through its juicy taste and crisp tannins. Some spices and dried fruit complete the wine on the finish and shout loudly: “À TABLE”!

Prepare a delicious dish of juicy meat: lamb shoulder with Moroccan spices, coq au-vin, roast pork... A vegetarian couscous is also an excellent choice, as well as grilled wholemeal bread with aubergine paste, black olives and goat’s cheese.