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2017 Jeff Carrel "Lilac" Côtes du Roussillon-Villages Product Zoom

2017 Jeff Carrel "Lilac" Côtes du Roussillon-Villages

SKU #1440470 93 points Jeb Dunnuck

Outer quote mark Currant, lavender, garrigue, and pepper spice notes emerge from the 2017 Cotes Du Roussillon Villages Lilac Wine, and it's elegant, balanced and incredibly complete on the palate. With fine tannins, moderate acidity, and a great finish, it's another rock star wine from Jeff Carrel. The blend is 45% Syrah, 30% Carignan, and 25% Grenache, brought up all in larger oak tanks. Inner quote mark (9/2019)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark A bit floral on the nose, with grapey notes and hints of meat and mocha, the 2017 Lilac Wine delivers ripe, dark fruit flavors. A blend of 45% Syrah, 30% Carignan and 25% Grenache, it's medium to full-bodied, with plenty of depth and richness, supple, creamy tannins and a long finish. (JC) Inner quote mark (4/2019)

91 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark A blend of 45% Syrah, 30% Carignan and 25% Grenache, this young wine smells fresh and lovely, yet with ample richness and concentration thanks to waves of lush blackberry, cherry and boysenberry that are all hit by earthy, floral accents of violets and singed sage leaf. The palate is smooth and silky, with fine but spicy tannins and bright, juicy black-fruit flavors that carry through to the medium-length close. (LB) Inner quote mark (10/2019)

K&L Notes

One of the newest additions to the eclectic portfolio of Jeff Carrel is this beauty from the vineyards of the Roussillon's Agly Valley, the Lilac. The name itself evokes floral imagery, and being Carignan dominant, it most certainly delivers that quality. The wine is a blend of 30% Carignan from 50+ year old vines, 25% Grenache and 45% Syrah all from low yielding fruit planted on a mix of clay/limestone, schist and black marl. The Carignan and Grenache are fermented whole cluster by carbonic maceration in wooden tanks, the Syrah is all destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tank. The two are merged together after primary fermentation and after malolactic, they rest for a month before bottling. The result is as inviting as you might hope with its gorgeous bouquet of vibrant fruit and exotic flowers. A new gem in Jeff's portfolio for certain.


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Price: $16.99
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JD: 93
RP: 91
WE: 91

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Product Reviews:
By: John Downing | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/29/2019 | Send Email
We've featured Jeff Carrel's "Les Darons" the past few vintages with great response from customers and staff so we're not surprised that his latest arrival, "Lilac", is just as impressive. While the name evokes an expressive floral array, the wine delivers not only that but also layers of pepper, red and black fruits and spice in an elegant and smooth frame. A very fine Rousillon red that's not to be missed.

By: Kirk Walker | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/11/2019 | Send Email
This is a very pretty wine with lots of higher-toned aromatics and delicate red fruits. The palate is surprisingly soft but builds on the long finish. This is a delightfully unexpected Roussillon wine, more Pinot Noir like than Rhone. Whatever it is like, I want to drink more of it.

By: Thomas Smith | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/5/2019 | Send Email
I taste a lot of wines from Roussillon here at K&L, and so, there is a bit of a built-in expectation that they are always big, slick reds that push the envelope on power. Yet, the Jeff Carrel Lilac really made me stop in my tracks. The aromas on this wine are different. Soft, gentle and really expressive. On the palate, it delivers plenty of richly layered, almost rubenesque fruit. There's no mistaking where this wine is from, but its a beautiful take on Roussillon. I love the two different sides of this wine that firmly root it in place, but also has really distinctive, compelling elements.

By: Sharon Kelly | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/4/2019 | Send Email
Fans of Jeff Carrel's Grenache-dominant "Les Darons" will be thrilled with this new addition to his portfolio. This time the focus is Carignan (with almost equal parts Grenache and Syrah). As mentioned, you’d expect this wine to be as weighty on the palate as the nose suggests but the Carignan provides a burst of acidity along with gentle tannic structure that gives this delectable wine remarkable lift. The nose is heady with aromas of flowers and ripe berries, and the flavors are plump ripe fruits and black pepper, all wrapped up in a round and persistent finish.

By: Kaj Stromer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/3/2019 | Send Email
Jeff’s wines are a perennial staff favorite and our savvy clients grab them while they can The "Lilac Wine" (homage to Jeff Buckley?) is one of the most delicious offerings I’ve had yet. Though it is a classic southern France blend, it reminds me of a fine cru Beaujolais with chutzpah. It possesses all that silky soft charm of a pedigreed Gamay but follows it with that savory gaminess only the Roussillon can deliver. Dark black and red fruits with herbs and a hint of licorice make this one of the most complex and interesting wines I’ve come across. I highly recommend this fascinating red which also happens to be an amazing value.

By: Keith Mabry | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/3/2019 | Send Email
The Lilac delivers a lot of just that - lilac, along with lilies and violets. The perfume on this wine is bold and exotic, maybe even transporting you away from some of the more lush profiles of other Roussillon reds, but fear not, the fruit abounds as well. Winemaker Jeff Carrel has been making some of our favorite value reds from the Languedoc-Roussillon and this slightly more serious red is a deeper fuller expression of his more daily drinker - Les Darons. The Lilac delivers a medley of red and black fruit with those beautiful floral tones wafting from the glass. This is a promising wine that will deliver a lot to enjoy for the next few years. One of the best wines yet from this very talented winemaker.

By: Greg St. Clair | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/3/2019 | Send Email
The nose of this wine is full of aromatic fruit, plum and cherry but suggests a ripe, fleshy body that isn't as ripe and fleshy as the nose portrays. On the palate the wine has loads of ripe and flavorful dark fruit the wine shows a bit of tannic structure but in general this is a lot of wine for the price point.

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