2014 Domaine Rimbert, Saint-Chinian “Les Travers de Marceau” Languedoc-Roussillon Red, France.
This vintage is striking for it’s detail and freshness of fruit and looks set to be the best yet from Rimbert, it’s a blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault that is very much Gigondas like in style and character, but with a touch more blue fruit. This area of the Languedoc-Roussillon has been producing wines since pre Roman times and was a real serious wine region since the middle ages when Benedictine monks preserved many areas under vine and wine was produced at abbeys and monasteries. Saint-Chinian was in high demand until the end of the 17th century, but the industrial revolution, war and the rise of other wine regions left it mostly forgotten in to modern times. Rimbert fermented the grapes in a mix of cement and large neutral cask allowing for ripe tannins and smooth textures, but focus is on the terroir and pureness of flavor. The 2014 Les Travers de Marceau by Domaine Rimbert is quite forward with a juicy sweet fruit, bright vibrancy, spicy mineral tones with plum, kirsch, blueberry and black raspberry that are lush on palate as well as a savory mix of pepper, licorice, terra-cotta and earthy flinty stones. This is an impressive Rhone style red that delivers great quality for the price that will be a wonderful medium full bodied wine to enjoy with cuisine, especially outdoor grilling, drink this lovely Domaine Rimbert over the next 3 to 5 years, look for it!
($17 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
