Description
Robert – Wine Specialist, Pasadena
A must have high scoring value from France
In my twenty years in the wine business there has been one standout wine regionthat has over delivered and remains the pound for pound champion of outstandingwine for the money. Lirac, or I like to call it “poor man’s Chateauneuf du Pape.”Lirac’s wine history dates to Roman times, and the region was famous in the MiddleAges. The appellation was officially established as an AOC in 1945. Lirac is locatedon the right bank of the Rhône River, near Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Tavel. Lirachas a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and is influenced by the coolingMistral wind. The soils consist of sandstone, limestone, and clay, with somevineyards having the “pudding stones” (galets roulés) characteristic of the Rhône.
The Mission wine team spent most of the summer tasting through several producersof Lirac and we recently unanimously chose the 2022 Xavier Vignon Lirac as ourpick. This wine hits all cylinders and over delivers for its under $25 price tag. Theblend is 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre. Take a bottle home andpair with any red meat or winter stew.
91 Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “Intense garrigue notions of resinous
herbs—rosemary, lavender, and bay—appear on the nose, supporting cherries and
raspberries. Full-bodied, supple, and creamy in feel, with a long, herb-tinged finish
and a coating of dusty tannins, this is an excellent representation of vintage and
place.”
91 Points James Suckling “A focused, dense, and serious Lirac red. It has notes of
dark berries, dried herbs, bay leaves, and baking spices on the nose, following
through to a full body with plush tannins. Dense, intense core of sweet berries and
spices and a focused finish. Drink or hold.”
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