2012 Domaine Rimbert, Saint-Chinian “Les Travers de Marceau” Languedoc Red, France.
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 region left it mostly forgotten in to modern times, but is starting to revive it’s luster and fortunes and it is a great place to look for bargains, and this Domaine Rimbert is one of those. The 2012 Les Travers de Marceau is full bodied Chateauneuf du Pape like red that is made up of a cepage of red grapes that include mostly Mourvedre with Syrah, Grenache and Carignan raised in cement vats and large wood cask. The nose starts with floral tones along with whiffs of meat, wild herbs and sweet red fruits leading to a rich palate of dark plums, black cherry, mountain berry with lots of earth and spice including peppercorns, warm stones, anise and framboise. This Rimbert is sweet and savory with a long finish, very pleasing and easy to love with refined tannins and lush mouth feel.
($18 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
avail at www.sfwtc.com ($16.95)