2014 Château Du Grand Caumont “Cuvée Tradition”, Corbières, France (Alcohol 13.5%) LCBO Vintages $13.95 (750ml bottle)
On the way to my local LCBO the other week I bumped into Toronto drinks writer Sarah Parniak. When I enquired as to what she had purchased at said LCBO she showed me this bargain-priced Corbières, and I am very thankful that she did so, as it’s an absolute cracker, and right up my alley when it comes to accessible Languedoc-Roussillon wine.
This 45% Carignan, 40% Syrah, 15% Grenache blend is a little bit wild, and that is a good thing. This wine’s sauvage nature is a thing of beauty, especially if you are not scared off by the more rustic side of southwestern French wines.
The nose has a pronounced florality, that I’d imagine comes from that healthy portion of my beloved Carignan varietal, but I’d be doing the wine a disservice if I were only to mention this aspect of what is an undeniably complex and intriguing nose. There’s lots of black berry fruit, but also hints of woodsmoke, spice, black pepper, sun-dried olives, and a funky garrique-like meaty quality that I find utterly entrancing. I wouldn’t go as far as gamey, but it is most certainly meaty. The palate is all about that black berry fruit, but it’s supported by some deliciously soft tannins and a mineral finish that make this bottling really damn easy to drink.
I paired this with simple charred hanger steak, herbed roasted potatoes, and garlic sautéed rapini, and it was utterly wonderful.
This is another wine from the SW that punches well above its weight. Highly recommended.
(Four apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, and writer Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And he’s looking forward to visiting the Languedoc again later this month.
