Rarely does a wine come across to carry the claim that it’s the best ever from a region. But that’s what the latest release from Domaine de Cebene is like from first to last sip.
The mostly all Carignan 2016 Cebene Belle Lurette from the Faugeres region in France’s Languedoc-Roussillion, comes across as the smoothest, sexiest and freshest youthful wine of its type ever produced by Brigitte Chevalier, or perhaps by any winery in Faugueres. The addition of Mourvedre, which grows very well in Faugeres, like it does in Bandol, and some old vine Grenache, gives the Belle Lurette an enchanting, almost ethereal flavor that lingers and lingers for up to 30 seconds.
While obviously tasting youthful, the mix of 70 year to some century aged Carignan vines are clearly at play, as the intensity of the fruit, the blending of the sage and rosemary aromas from the garrigue and the lack of oak has made the wine both very ageworthy and drink now friendly.
While black fruit flavors are most evident as the black raspberry, blackberry and black cherry tastes all come through, there’s also a healthy dose of red plums, some black tar and slate going on. This is a gem of a wine, and worth seeking out.
That’s why, the 2016 Cebene Belle Lurette Faugeres is today’s WineSiders’ Wine of The Day!!!
