50% Grenache (early 1900s), 50% Syrah (1930s-1940s) from 2.9 hectares on sandy soil on Les Cornuds (2 ha), and Les Hauts de Julien (0.9 ha), co-planted on own vineyards at 400 metres, so ripen together, ferment together, destemmed, 2+ week steel vat vinification, aged 70% large barrel, 30% new-1-2 year old 228-litre oak casks 12-15 months, fined, filtered, first wine was 2003, 5-6,000 bottles made. (barrel/cask sample) Bold dark red colour. The bouquet is brimming, full of blackberry, with some sweet oak, rosemary, marjoram, licorice, black olives. It’s a true southern wine. This is intrinsically powerful, with a welling up of crushed blackberries, and texture from ripe crop and a relatively high degree. The finish has a spark of clarity, licorice there. It’s not confected, but is in that vein, so the longer you wait, the better. From 2020. 2031-33 Oct 2017. 4*