Domaine de la Sarabande, 'Misterioso' 2010

Price:

€17.45

About This Wine

This Grenache was sourced from the Domaine's 'Mas de Lanus' vineyard in Autignac. This Grenache vineyard os on a north west facing slope that consists of fine grey schist. The wine has a deep rich crimson appearance. The aromas are of baked cherries, leather and spice. The palate is again dominated by cherries but there is some attractive strawberry characters combined with fine tannins.

Domaine la Sarabande was created in 2008 by Paul and Isla Gordon. Paul hails from Sydney whilst Isla is a Co.Carlow native. The two met in New Zealand where Paul was working as a winemaker for Whitehaven Vineyards in Blenheim and Isla was on her travels around the world. Having both spent time in working in vineyards in Spain and the South of France they settled upon Faugeres as their ideal place to make wine due to its geographical position in the foothills of the Cevennes mountains in the Languedoc region and its wonderful schist soils.

Their estate comprises of 5 ½ hectares of vineyards and theirs is probably the most artisan-like production with whom we work. Normally we don’t get too excited about the whole Irish Wine Geese thing as the most important thing is that the wines be good in the first place however we don’t think in all our experience that we have seen a more exciting debut from any producer whether they have an Irish connection or not. Paul and Isla have managed to tame and harness the potential excesses of the warm climate of the South of France and have really brought to the fore all that is elegant, fruit driven and fine in their wines.

2009 was their first vintage to be released on to the market and the wines are outstanding. 2010 reached an even higher quality level with still greater freshness and elegance and with the 2011 this wine just continues to get better.

Due to the size of the estate’s production, the wines are only available in tiny quantities.

Irish Times, Wines of the Year 2011, Friday, December 2nd 2011