2006 La Pèira en Damaisèla Coteaux de Languedoc

Healthy crimson. A cooler year maybe but a much more refined wine than the very slightly rustic 2005. Polished with a wonderfully sumptuous texture and delightful freshness on the finish after a richly dark-fruited start. There's something black about this wine: tar? liquorice? But overall it has great presence on the palate. Neat finish. (JR)

From the “Bois de Pauliau” vineyard and the top cuvée of this estate, the 2006 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac, is a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache. It’s a full bore, decadent wine that sees 18 to 24 months in barrel before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It shows a touch more precision than the Las Flors and has fantastic aromatics of cassis, lead pencil, raw meat, flowers and toasted spice aromas. With air, you get a touch of garrigue and lavender notes but at the moment, this is about beautiful, pure (and meaty) fruit. These aromas seamlessly carry over to the full bodied palate where it is richly textured. Balanced, polished and long, the age-worthy structure becomes more obvious with air time. To get the most out of this, decant then serve cool so it can warm up in the glass. I put this bottle in two blind lineups and it never failed to impress. 250 cases.

Thick, dense and very oaked Syrah. The oak is more obvious than on the 2007 and the whole is just a little too tannic at the moment. Lots of tar and a very dry finish, though there is certainly a gloss on this and it's much more sophisticated than the average Languedoc red. Very fine and polished. Full of pleasure: sweet start and then a dry finish. I'd love to see this alongside other serious Syrahs. (JR)