Lafage Bastide Miraflors 2020

Black Raspberry, Cassis, Wild Fennel

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"This full-bodied red hails from the Roussillon, a region in the south of France known for its geological diversity and excellent value. Located between the vast limestone mountains of Corbieres to the north and the Pyrenees to the south, Roussillon is a mountainous region well-suited for growing Rhone varietals such as Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Domaine Lafage is an estate located in the Cotes du Roussillon appellation, currently presided over by winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage. With a wine growing history dating back to the French Revolution, the Lafage family have gradually purchased small vineyard parcels throughout the region, which add up to a not-so-small 160 hectares today. These vines, many of them upwards of 50 years old, come from a wide variety of terrors, contributing added complexity when blended together. Bastide Miraflors is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache. To create this blend, Jean-Marc selects two specific vineyard sites: the Grenache comes from high-altitude schist and granite soils which allow the grapes to ripen later in the year, while the Syrah comes from granite-heavy soils near the Mediterranean coast. The average age of the vines is 55 years, and all grapes are hand-harvested. Most of the blend spends 12 months in concrete before bottling, with a small amount fermented in used oak demi-muids." - JP Donnelly-Davis