Domaine De La Mordoree Cuvee de la Reine des Bois Lirac Blanc 2016

Domaine De La Mordoree Cuvee de la Reine des Bois Lirac Blanc has been an evergreen on my list. Lirac Blanc in general is a great buy. But what Mordoree does is a step above. Their Lirac Blanc is a blend of Grenache Blanc 30% Clairette 20% Viognier 10 % Roussanne 10% Marsanne 10 % Picpoul 5%  Divers 10 % from 40 year old vines. This cuvee of Lirac Blanc is mostly fermented in tank with 10% old oak. Which gives this wine that is full of character, with an unctuous mouthfeel and brilliant balance. It isn't overtly fruity but the yellow-fleshed fruits and floral notes are there along with the stones and spice and mineral. On the palate, this Lirac Blanc all comes together brilliantly. Lirac Blanc is both silky but the mango acid is refreshing. There is so much character in this Lirac Blanc 2016 that is ready to drink. But you will be happy to watch it evolve for the next 7-10 years. Domaine De La Mordorée Cuvée de la Reine des Bois Lirac Blanc 2016, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts. 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. Domaine De La Mordoree Cuvee de la Reine des Bois Lirac Blanc 2016 Winery Notes "Gold with green hints. White and yellow fruits, peach, pear, apricot, verbena. Round, very long, very fruity, complex and elegant. Pairings : Fishes, shellfishes, comté cheese, and as aperitive" Lirac 0ften 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 make up for it in drink-now appeal and value. Clairette Clairette means “light one”. Clairette was once widespread in France, but higher-quality varieties replaced it. You can still find Clairette in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc. Its low acid, high alcohol and tendency to oxidise made it popular for Sparkling wine, Vermouth and Madeira styles. As a table wine, Clairette tends to make fresh, light wines tasting of apples, citrus and stonefruit. Grenache Blanc Closely related to the more famous red Grenache, Grenache blanc shares similar characteristics. It is prone to high alcohol, low acids, and high cropping. Also, like red Grenache, Grenache Blanc does better in most cases when it is blended with other grapes. Commonly in the Rhone, it is Roussanne, but there are half a dozen other native Rhone whites that can be used. Look for flavours in the citrus and herbaceous spheres. Roussanne One of the grapes, along with Marsanne, that adds texture, structure and sobriety to the Rhone Valley’s ostentatious Viognier. Without their flamboyant partner, the wines tend to be rich, understated but with good balance. In the right hands, there is amazing perfume and fruit to coax out. Rhone Valley One of the great wine regions in the world. Situated along the Rhone river in South-East France, there is a distinct divide between the Syrah dominant North where the Mistral wind cools and regulates the temperature and the hot lands in the South where Grenache is at its peak. The region produces everything from easy-going quaffers to wines that demand long-term cellaring. Whites can be outstanding such as Viognier made in Condrieu, and Rosé makes a fair impression too. French Wine The land that so many New World (not European) wine producers look to emulate. To generalise about French wine, I would say it is savoury, lighter-bodied wines. They are the definition of elegant, complex. There are many styles, though. And there is a French wine for every palate. They lead the world in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Sparkling Wine in Champagne. Cabernet and Merlot in Bordeaux. Syrah(Shiraz) and Grenache in the Rhone Valley. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris in Alsace. Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley. Gamay in Beaujolais. Wine Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years. The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins. Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too. The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different. White Wine It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world. It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long. The Wine Depository I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door. Domaine De La Mordorée Cuvée de la Reine des Bois Lirac Blanc 2016