2009 Lirac la Dame Rousse

The 2009 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac La Dame Rousse, an even split of Grenache and Syrah, sports a perfumed, upfront bouquet of spiced red fruits, chalky earth, and licorice, medium to full body, and a round, supple profile. There is solid purity, as well as outstanding depth on the mid-palate, and this fleshes out beautifully with air and drank well for the three days I had the bottle open. While it lacks the polish and depth of the Lirac Cuvée de la Reine des Bois, it’s nonetheless a beautifully done wine that’s perfect for consuming over the coming 5-8 years.

During my visit, I was able to taste two samples for a new Lirac Cuvee, the 2009 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac Cuvée “The Mountain”. This is from a new vineyard that has a cool, humid and unique micro climate and Christophe thinks the terroir is special enough to warrant its own cuvee. The first sample, all from tank, was very deep, dense and mineral driven and possesses full body, big fruit and fantastic balance. The second sample was from a new barrel and showed a touch more refinement and depth to me. Either way, both were very impressive. The final blend will be determined prior to bottling.