Lirac Bel Canto 2017 Domaine Maby

Bijzondere kwaliteit Lirac van 100% grenachedruiven afkomstig van stokken met een gemiddelde leeftijd van 54 jaar. Lage opbrengst. Deze speciale cuvée heeft verder 15 maanden gerijpt op demi-muids (eikenhouten vaten met een inhoud van 600 liter zoals men die vooral in de Rhône aantreft). Aantrekkelijke neus van voornamelijk pruimen. Goed geïntegreerde tannine en een lange peperige afdronk. Slechts 4500 flessen van gemaakt.

91 punten The Wine Advocate
The 2017 Lirac Bel Canto—an all-Grenache cuvée aged 15 months in demi-muids—features attractive aromas of peppery roasted meat, caramel, black cherries and cola. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and velvety-textured, with an intense, chewy finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with largely consistent notes, although the oak seemed more prominent in one bottle than the other.

Located in the heart of the village of Tavel, this large (60-hectare) estate is run by the energetic Richard Maby. We spent much of the time discussing the 2018s, of which Maby said, "I think it's my best vintage yet." Unfortunately, several of the red wines were still finishing up their alcoholic fermentations in June and were unavailable for tasting as a result. While Maby described the spring as "very difficult, really rainy, with lots of mildew," he insisted, "it had no impact on the quality of the grapes." The rosés here seem to have taken a different tack than in the past, with less color and ripeness, so this bears watching.