2017 Domaine Pelaquie Lirac
Blend: 70% Grenache 30% Mourvèdre
From: Southern Rhone, France
Since the 16th century, the Pélaquié family has cultivated vineyards and produced wine in the Southern Rhone Valley. Nowadays, at the head of the winery located in Saint Victor la Coste, Gard, it's Luc Pélaquié who maintains the familial tradition. Passion, precision but also creativity are the main characteristics of our team's work to produce each year quality wines, subtle and daring.
Domaine Pélaquié, located in the southern part of the ‘Côtes-du-Rhône’ produces the full range of wines of the right bank of the Rhône. The estate stretches on 100 hectares, whose main part is surrounding the family house located in Saint-Victor-La-Coste in the Gard Region. Facing Avignon, on the right bank of the Rhone, dominated by the Mediterranean climate, the vineyard is very sunny thanks to the mistral wind-king. On limestone soils, where lie the rounded stone, into microclimates, live diverse grape varieties that allow many blends from which arise a range of distinctive wines. The river-king, the wind-king sung by poets, Mediterranean sun, the know-how of the winemakers create a generous wine, shimmering, with a rich bouquet of aromas.
The Pélaquié family has been cultivating vines on the same Southern Rhone parcel since the mid-1500’s. Each generation has protected this cultural legacy with love, keeping the familial footprint intact via some of the most elegant wines you’ll find in Lirac, Tavel, and Laudun. The estate is 95 hectares in total, and stylistically these are what you’d call “classic.” White wines have emerged as somewhat of a specialty here under Luc Pélaquié’s direction and these are worth paying special attention to when available. Grape varieties are harvested at optimal ripeness and vinified separately. After 24 hours of maceration, the alcoholic fermentation takes place in thermo-regulated tanks during 15 days with regular pumping-over. The wine is aged in stainless tanks for 12 months before bottling.
The region of Lirac is a large and growing (782 ha/1,932 acres by 2013) appellation on the right bank of the southern rhône producing mainly full-bodied reds, and a small amount of rosé and full bodied white wine. The rosés can offer good-value alternatives to nearby tavel, made in very similar conditions and from the same sort of grape varieties, while the reds generally resemble a particularly soft, earlier maturing Côte du Rhône-Villages, although there are one or two notably more ambitious exceptions such as Domaines du Joncier and de la Mordorée and some of the better producers in châteauneuf-du-pape across the river who also make a Lirac. The appellation includes three communes other than Lirac, of which Roquemaure was an important port in the 16th century from which wines would be shipped as far north as England and Holland (see rivers). In the 18th century, Roquemaure was a much more important wine centre than Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Modern red and rosé Lirac must contain at least 40% Grenache with Mourvèdre and/or Syrah making up at least 25%, while in 2014 Carignan was limited to 10%. Many of the minor Châteauneuf varieties may make up the rest, while Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne are the main white wine grapes. Quality has increased considerably.
Taste: An intensive ruby color. Complex nose with black fruits and spicy notes. It is rich in mouth with a nice finish.
Pairing: The blend of Grenache and Mourvedre lends itself well to mexican cuisine, root vegetables, vegetable stew, or even baked ziti. It will also frame a lamb entree such as a braised lamb shank, Irish lamb stew, or Indian lamb curry.
