Lirac “La Lorentine” AOC 2019

On an area of seven hectares in the picturesque valley of the Lirac, the Lorentine winery cultivates its grapes, with Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah almost in balance. This soil, once characterised by an abundance of limestone, has been transformed into a diverse mix of red clay, gravel, sand and river pebbles thanks to numerous phases of erosion. After the purchase of the winery in 2003, it took several years of careful rehabilitation of the land to truly express the terroir in the wines. In the meantime, however, this transition has been completed. As with all of the owners' vineyards, organic and biodynamic methods are used and the grapes are harvested by hand. The carefully selected fruit is destemmed and then fermented with natural yeasts at controlled temperatures to avoid interruptions in the fermentation process. The Lorentine is aged in concrete tanks and barrels and bottled 18 months after harvest.

The colour of this wine presents itself as a seductive black cherry red. Its bouquet captivates with lush notes of dark fruit such as blueberries, elderberries and black cherries, complemented by a deep layer of juniper berries and garrigue herbs wrapped around a core of tapenade.

On the palate, this wine impresses with a juicy, energetic attack. Finely balanced tannins, enveloped by dark fruits, create an invigorating taste experience. With aromas of cassis and liquorice to the fore, this wine is distinctly mineral and, despite its concentration, leaves the mouth feeling invigoratingly fresh.

In terms of food pairing, this complex wine would pair beautifully with a beef carpaccio with parmesan. It will also be a treat paired with a rabbit stew with black olives and rosemary. A vegetarian option could be a caponata, brimming with aubergines, pine nuts and served with polenta.