2010 Montirius "Le Clos" Vacqueyras

Glass-staining purple. Deeply pitched aromas of cherry pit, cassis, cured meat and olive tapenade. Stains the palate with spicy dark fruit flavors, with zesty acidity providing spine. A rich but energetic Vacqueyras with excellent finishing power and lingering smokiness. I suspect that this wine will age at a snail's pace. (1/ 2012)

Blackish crimson. But there is lift on the nose! Unexpectedly. Some Syrah surely here? Very glossy, ambitious whole. Polished but not specious. (12/ 2011)

The more modern-styled 2010 Vacqueyras Les Clos (equal parts Grenache and Syrah from a lieu-dit called Comtat) is also aged in concrete vats for a minimum of 12-18 months. The average age of these vines is 25 years. The wine reveals earthy, floral notes intermixed with licorice as well as hints of truffles and meat. It, too, should be drunk over the next 3-4 years. (10/ 2012)

Montirius is the impeccable fifth-generation estate of the Saurel family, a leading producer of Vacqueyras and Gigondas wines in the southern Rhone Valley. The Saurels make a range of deeply scented and flavored wines imbued with Provence's spice and structure. These are sensual wines with unusual finesse, possessing penetrating minerality and length. Le Clos is a unique parcel in Vacqueryas comprising 8.5 hectares. Surrounded by oaks in a microclimate yielding less rain than surrounding areas, the vineyard is planted on a gently rising slope comprised of garrigues and blue clay. The estate has been practicing biodynamic viticulture for more than ten years. 14.5% abv