Moving to the 2019 reds and a blend of 40% Syrah and 30% each of Mourvèdre and Grenache, the 2019 Lirac La Reine Des Bois reveals a deep purple hue as well as a masculine, mineral-laced bouquet of cassis, framboise, ground pepper, graphite, and smoked meat. The Syrah dominates the nose at present, yet it shows more Grenache sexiness on the palate and is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, great tannins, and a beautiful finish. There are enough tannins and underlying structure to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age, yet it should be a 10- to 15-year wine. It’s always in the running for the Lirac of the vintage and bests many a top Châteauneuf du Pape.

October 2020