BUYINGGUIDE
152 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | OCTOBER 2019plum, cherry, allspice, bay and lavender. The palate
is smooth and satiny, with fine tannins that show
surprising length and intensity on the close, which
culminates in notes of white pepper and tea. Drink
now–2025. Robert Kacher Selections. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $NA91
Jeff Carrel 2017 Lilac Wine (Côtes du Roussil-
lon Villages). A blend of 45% Syrah, 30%
Carignan and 25% Grenache, this young wine
smells fresh and lovely, yet with ample richness and
concentration thanks to waves of lush blackberry,
cherry and boysenberry that are all hit by earthy,
floral accents of violets and singed sage leaf. The
palate is smooth and silky, with fine but spicy tan-
nins and bright, juicy black-fruit flavors that carry
through to the medium-length close. Hand Picked
Selections. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $2291
Jeff Carrel 2016 Lilac Wine (Côtes du Roussil-
lon Villages). A bold, pronounced ripe-fruit
character carries the nose of this wine, expressed in
abundant aromas of black fig paste, muddled black-
berry and raspberry sauce. Hints of licorice root
and vanilla bean lend interest throughout, while
the plush, mouthfilling palate boasts firm tannins
and enduring flavors of spiced chocolate-covered
raisin, black cherry and German chocolate cake. It’s
decadent, big and bold, but not overdone, showing
good balance between the rich flavors and the pow-
erful structure. Hand Picked Selections. Editors’
Choice. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $2289
Domaine Cazes 2017 Ego (Côtes du Roussil-
lon Villages). There’s a lovely top note of
German chocolate cake on the nose of this wine,
supported by a fruity core of blackberry, black
cherry and raspberry preserves. Medium in weight,
it shows moderate tannins that lend a nice grip to
the plush fruit flavors, with lingering tones of black
cherry skin and a touch of cassis on the close. Final
flourishes of licorice and pressed purple flowers
hang on to the end. Cannon Wines Limited. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $2089
Domaine Thunevin-Calvet 2016 Cuvée Con-
stance (Côtes du Roussillon Villages). This
starts off a little closed on the nose, with subtle
scents of church incense and fruit-cake spice that
dance atop more pronounced notes of red plum and
cherry. The palate is light-plus in feel, yet smooth,
with fine tannins and ample fruit flavors that result
in a crushed satin texture. The medium-length fin-
ish boasts more red cherry and raspberry flavors.
Serge Doré Selections. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $2089
Domaine Thunevin-Calvet 2013 Cuvée Con-
stance (Côtes du Roussillon Villages). A
lemony character unexpectedly shines from the
nose of this wine, lending vibrancy to the core of
ripe strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb as well as
hints of earthy bramble and cola spice. The pal-
ate is smooth and satiny, with fine yet structuringtannins and a pleasant feel through the dry finish.
Serge Doré Selections. Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $1389
Lafage 2017 Fundació (Côtes du Roussillon
Villages). This is fruit-punch fruity, with
forward notes of fresh blueberry, wild strawberry
and raspberry right off the bat. A touch of chocolate
fudge adds decadence, though it’s not overpower-
ing. The palate is smooth and round, with a slight
creaminess to the lush red-fruit and -berry flavors.
The finish is juicy and fruity, with bright acidity.
European Cellars. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $3589
Vignerons Catalans 2015 Red Domus (Côtes
du Roussillon Villages). Perfect for those
that prefer a lush, richly fruited pour, this leads
with ripe aromas of black cherry, boysenberry and
mulberry, hit by a solid dusting of sweet spice atop.
The palate offers more of the same, with medium
acidity and moderate tannins to frame and struc-
ture the ripe black-fruit tones. Touches of coffee,
leather and licorice grace the medium-length finish.
Monsieur Touton Selection Ltd. Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $1388
Domaine Cazes 2014 Le Credo (Côtes du
Roussillon Villages). A resinous herbal
character shows on the nose of this wine, with a
lush black plum and blackberry core. The palate is
thick and dense, with aggressive tannins and a bold,
slightly warm structure that frames the decadent
favors of spiced plum and blueberry-pie filling. The
finish shows a surprising sanguine edge, with final
notes of whole peppercorns and spiced cherries.
The Hirsch Collection. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $70CÔTES DU ROUSSILLON
92
Mas Janeil by Francois Lurton 2015 Le Pas
de la Mule (Côtes du Roussillon). A blend
of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan,
there are pronounced floral and herbal aromatics
in the bouquet of this wine, expressed in waves of
cinnamon stick, church incense, cigar box, allspice
and coriander atop a core of brambly raspberry and
blackberry. The palate is smooth and seductive,
with silky tannins that then offer surprisingly firm
texture and grip through the enduring and evolving
close, which starts off fruity snd then goes back to
that earthy, spicy overlay. Cape Classics. Editors’
Choice. —L.B.
abv: 15.5% Price: $3691
Domaine Treloar 2013 Le Secret (Côtes du
Roussillon). A pretty purple-flower charac-
ter dominates the nose of this Syrah-based wine,
with an additional 10% each of Grenache and
Mourvèdre. Fleshy plum and cherry tones support
the pronounced violet and lilac aromas. Ripe, plush
red-fruit tones are framed by pillowy yet supportive
tannins and ample acidity to yield a satiny feel. Thefinish is evolving and lingering, with nice evolution.
Drink now–2023. Loubaton Imports LLC. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $2490
Château de L’ou 2017 Côtes du Roussillon.
Soft scents of pressed carnation, plum skin,
game meat and curing spice form the nose of this
Syrah-Grenache blend. The palate is smooth and
creamy at first, but then offers firmly structured
tannins that carry through to the dry, gripping
close. Ripe fruit flavors abound, with spicy waves
of blackberry, plum and boysenberry all dancing
through the close. DJK Imports. Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 15% Price: $1390
Château L’Esparrou 2016 Mas Grand (Côtes
du Roussillon). Assertive aromas of frank-
incense, clove, cocoa and allspice lead the nose of
this spicy wine, with notes of fruitcake, dried cherry
and red currant at the core. Medium in weight and
silky in feel, the woody, spicy tones dance on the
palate and lend superb length to the close, grounded
by flavors of ripe red cherry and raspberry. Drink
now. Vision Wine & Spirits. Best Buy. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $1489
Château Mossé 2018 Côtes du Roussillon.
Bright and ripe smelling, this leads with
bold, ripe red-fruit characteristics, purple floral
tones and just a touch of fudginess. Ample acidity
gives lift to the plush texture and velvety tannins,
with ripe red-berry flavors and a decadent mocha
accent on the medium-length close. Eagle Eye
Brands. —L.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $1889
Domaine Treloar 2015 Three Peaks Syrah-
Mourvèdre-Grenache (Côtes du Roussillon).
A black cherry aroma leads the nose of this lush
wine, with supporting tones of wood spice, forest
floor, licorice root and church incense. The palate
follows through with more black cherry and berry
fruit flavors that are framed by moderate tannins
and ample acidity, yielding a solid structure that
suggests this is best enjoyed now–2022. Loubaton
Imports LLC. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $2089
Domaine Treloar 2011 Tahi (Côtes du Roussil-
lon). There’s a brandied cherry note on the
nose of this wine, with raspberry sauce and brambly
berry mixing in as well. Soft tones of cocoa, turned
soil and tree bark play along, too. The palate is light
and bright at first, with vibrant acidity and struc-
tured tannins to frame the dried cherry and berry
tones. A lovely cocoa tone graces the close. Louba-
ton Imports LLC. —L.B.
abv: 14% Price: $35PIEDMONT
BARBARESCO
96
Cantina del Pino 2015 Albesani (Bar-
baresco). Camphor, licorice and dried mint
aromas align with scents of dark-skinned fruit. Full