2011 Domaine Amido, Lirac “Hommage” Rhone Valley, France.
This small estate in the Rhone, is really an exceptional find, they make delicious wines and offer great value, mostly from Lirac, not far from Gigondas in the southern Rhone. Charles Neal, the importer said he just happened upon them at a small local wine fair a few years back and was impressed by their basic Cotes du Rhone, a neat little example that sells for about $10, but their Lirac AC really is a bit more special and has plenty of what you’d want from Rhone blend, it is very much a baby Chateauneiuf du Pape. Then, there is the Hommage Lirac, this is even better, a special cuvee that seems modeled on the famed Chateau de Beaucastel, it is primarily Mourvedre about 60% with the rest a balance of Grenache and Syrah, this stuff is dark and deeply flavored, powerful and earthy in style, seriously endowed wine that grabs your attention. The 2011 Homage from Domaine Lirac oozes into the glass with a purple/black hue with deep garnet edges and makes an immediate palate impact with black and blue fruits, scorched earth, meaty notes and peppery spices along with a thick tannic texture. There is lavender, crushed violets, liquid stones, bacon, cassis, blueberry, boysenberry, leather, dusty loam and baked cherry layers and hints of wild herbs and tar along with salted black licorice. This is heady, vibrant stuff, an impressive effort and begs for hearty winter fare, this would go especially well with lamb, drink this over the next 3 to 5 years, best from 2015 to 2018.
($25 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
