2011 Vignoble Reveille “Climax” Roussillon, France.
This cuvee of old vine Carignane 75% and Grenache 25% is raised and aged in concrete vats/tanks using native yeast in a totally natural fermentation, all organic grapes, which were ripened to perfection under the Mediterranean sun near the border with Spain. This wine, the Climax, was crafted by France Crispeels a woman winemaker, a Belgian by birth, with vines near Cassagnes in the Cotes Catalanes/Roussillon region in a beautiful a rugged valley (Vallée de l’Agly) on unique Schist and Gneiss soils. The vines are reported to be from the late 1800’s, well over a hundred years old and Crispeels, a devotee of Nicholas Joly, uses only biodynamic grapes and is a new star in the Natural wine scene, after some years crafting wines in Bandol and Provence. The 2011 Climax is exceptional wine with terroir and earthy character along with heady ripe fruit, spice and mineral tones, this is wonderful and pure stuff showing floral perfume, wild game, garrigue and licorice on the nose, leading to a vigorous palate of dried currants, black cherry, boysenberry, cranberry and strawberry fruits, lavender oil, cassis, pepper, chalk and gravel. This dark purple/black hued wine is flavorful, joyous, real and playful, drink now and for the next 3 to 5 years. (Also look for her Franc Tireur Carignane, mentioned in an earlier post)
($24 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
avail at www.sfwtc.com ($21.95)