Wine Advocate (92)

Primarily Carignan planted in 1909, the 2016 Minervois Les Carretals aged entirely in barrel. Boasting classy aromas of crushed stone, vanilla and baking spices, it is medium to full-bodied on the palate and finishes crisp and firm, with dusty tannins and bright cherry fruit. Give it until 2020 and then drink it over the next decade.

Wine Advocate (91)

I loved the 2015 Minervois les Fontanilles and it’s one of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup. Made from equal parts Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, aged in equal parts stainless steel and barrel, it offers outstanding notes of black raspberries, cassis and a liquid rock like minerality. Like all the wines here, it has an inherent elegance and freshness (probably due to this higher elevation, unique terroir), and I suspect will evolve nicely for 4-6 years.

Wine Advocate (92)

Half of the 2016 Minervois Les Fontanilles aged in oak, the rest in tank. The blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault is from a plot on cool, north-facing terroir that is surrounded by garrigue, and those elements—rosemary, thyme, bay leaf—figure prominently in the wine, infusing the bright red-cherry fruit with hints of resinous herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it's crisp and long on the finish, ending with mouthwatering acidity.

Wine Advocate (94)

Slightly more ripe, voluptuous and textured than the more Syrah-dominated l’Esquerda, the translucent purple-colored 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem comes from the schist soils around the village of Latour de France. A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Carignan that was harvest on September 15 and aged all in concrete tanks, it’s a fabulous wine that offers elegant notes of red and black raspberries, roasted herbs, pepper, melted licorice and asphalt. These flow to a medium to full-bodied 2013 that has a full, layered mid-palate, beautiful fruit, fine tannin and a classically focused, dry finish. It continues to freshen up in the glass, has integrated acidity and lots of class. Buy this brilliant wine by the case and drink it over the coming decade.

Wine Advocate (88)

The estate's bargain-priced entry-level red, the 2016 Les Vignes de Bila Haut is a smooth, streamlined blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Carignan, aged exclusively in concrete vats. Medium to full-bodied, it boasts cool herbal aromas of garrigue alongside ripe cherries, then it caps those off with a fine-textured, silky finish. Drink it in its first few years.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Deeply colored, with beautiful currants, chocolate, dried earth, and ground herbs, the 2017 Côtes Du Roussillon Villages Latour De France Visitare Interiore Terrae is full-bodied and has a rounded, sexy, opulent texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s a much more opulent, Southern Rhône styled effort compared to the more Syrah-dominated RI release.

Jeb Dunnuck (95-97)

The 2020 Côtes Du Roussillon Villages Latour De France Visitare Interiore Terrae is a slightly more Grenache-driven release since 2019, and I think it shows more elegance and purity because of it. All destemmed and aged in a mix of concrete tanks and once-used demi-muids, it offers a beautiful perfume of kirsch and black berry fruits intermixed with more subtle pepper, garrigue, and floral notes. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it’s going to have plenty of up-front appeal as well as 10-15 years of prime drinking.

Decanter (98)

The formerly little-known appellation of Cabardès made it into our Decanter World Wine Awards 'Best in Show' selection in London in spring 2018, and now the AOP has done it again, with yet another outstanding effort, this time impressing our Asian judges. This blend of 60% Cabernet Franc with 30% Syrah and 10% Grenache is saturatedly black-red in colour, surrendering fresh, floral aromas backed by enticing black-raspberry and mulberry fruits. On the palate, the wine is deep yet full of lively charm, perfectly summarising the 'crossover' appeal of this appellation, which lies half-way between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Fine-grained tannins and lacy, billowing acidity carry that raspberry/mulberry fruit all the way to a fresh, graceful finish. Cabernet Franc fans should seek it out. Drink 2018-2026

Nestled beneath the striking limestone ridge of the Pic Saint Loup in Southern France lies the boutique vineyard of Clos Marie, the producer of the exceptional 'Clos Marie Pic Saint Loup Simon 2004'. This distinguished expression of the terroir is expertly crafted, showcasing the meticulous organic and biodynamic practices adhered to by the winemakers. With grapes maturing gently under the Mediterranean sun, the blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre yields an intoxicating depth of character, adorned with layers of spice and dark fruit on the palate.

This full-bodied red exhibits age-worthy structure and a rich, balanced profile due to aging in French oak barrels. A testament to the distinct character of Languedoc wines, the Clos Marie Pic Saint Loup Simon 2004 resonates with a true gourmand's appreciation for elaborate, complex reds. A gem of the Pic Saint Loup AOC, it's a wine to be savoured and celebrates with reverence the craft of artisanal wine making.

Bask in the exquisite richness of Clos Marie Pic-Saint-Loup Glorieuses 2000, a gem crafted in the renowned Pic Saint Loup appellation of Languedoc, France. The result of organic viticulture and meticulous craftsmanship, this vintage red wine mirrors its creators, Christophe Peyrus and Françoise Julien, known for their commitment to authenticity and reverence for the terroir.

A harmonious blend of Grenache and Syrah, this 2000 vintage epitomises the producer's dedication to sustainable agriculture, hand-harvesting, and non-interventionist winemaking. With a seductive, powerful bouquet of black and red fruits, interlaced with spicy nuances, the Clos Marie Pic-Saint-Loup Glorieuses 2000 exhibits structured tannins leading to a delectably complex finish. Maturation for twelve months in oak casks confers refinement and texture to this garnet-hued potion.

Destined to impress, the Clos Marie Pic-Saint-Loup Glorieuses 2000 has been heralded as a pinnacle of the Peyrus-Julien legacy, capturing the essence of a remarkable vintage.