Description

Mordoree La Dame Rousse Lirac is at a great point in its life. There is the blue and black-fruited over-tones, with hints of pepper, liquorice and game. But also, you can see some of the earthy, leathery development. Plenty of purity and elegance are on show along with rich, silky fruits. Soft acid and tannin round out the experience. Mordoree La Dame Rousse is lovely drinking, especially now it isn’t a pup. I could imagine drinking this with a mushroom pie or even some braised meats.

Two brothers who bottled their first Chateauneuf du Pape in 1997. They follow biodynamic principles in the vineyard with low cropping to get the best result. De-stemming, long macerations, warm ferments and indigenous yeasts are favoured in the winery. They make modern and clean wines from the Southern Rhone that still retain the flavour and spirit of the appellation. They are delicious too. The rosé and ‘lessers’ appellations are great value and the Chateauneuf wines will rival the greats. Reine des Bois is their reserve cuvee and Dame Rousse their normal wines.

Lirac

Often overlooked for more well-known neighbours but for one-tenth, the price Lirac is often a good substitute for Chateauneuf. Lirac wines often don’t have the stuffing for long aging like some of its cousins but makes up for it in drink-now appeal and value.

Grenache/Garnacha

Spain’s gift to the world. We know it as Grenache and I think everyone has a soft spot for it in some way. Almost too exuberant in expressing its sweet red fruits and high alcohol, it often needs a little bit of other wines to add moderation, structure and depth. Much like Abbott and Costello. Despite this, the wines of Priorat, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rioja and Aussie GSMs have an amazing ability to age for the long-term.