2011 Minervois La Ciaude

Mostly Carignan, from 100+-year-old vines, the 2011 Minervois La Ciaude offers beautiful typicity in its saline-like, mineral-laced and earthy dark fruits, spice and graphite aromas and flavors. Textured, medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced, it’s a knockout bottle of wine to drink over the coming 7-8 years. Vosne-Romanee-based Anne Gros and partner Jean-Paul Tollot (of Domaine Tollot-Beaut) fashion serious, structured and age-worthy efforts from their estate located in the northern part of the Minervois. I spent the better part of an afternoon with Anne, touring all of her vineyards, and the terroir here is spectacular, with diverse soil and exposure between each of the sites. The wines have vibrant, if not crunchy, acidity, good concentration and beautifully made profiles that will benefit from short-term cellaring. While I hate to use the term Burgundian here, these efforts certainly have a tension and energetic feel (while not lacking fruit) that’s unique to the region. Importers include United Estates Wine Imports (Connie and Patrick Allen Selections), Worthington, OH; tel. (614) 543-1427; and North Berkeley Wine Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (800) 266-6585