2008 Coteaux du Languedoc Las Flors

55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Baked and more like their 100% Mourvèdre. Not such good value as their Obriers, I think. Big and brooding and very tarry. (JR)

Almost Bordeaux like in its decadent, yet edgy and dense aromatic profile, the 2008 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors is the estate’s second wine (yet the equivalent of just about everyone else’s top wine) and is a blend of close to half Grenache and the balance Syrah, with a touch of Mourvèdre in the blend as well. It exhibits first-rate aromas of smoked black currants, sappy herbs, licorice, roasted meats, and lilac aromas on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate and concentrated, without a hint of over-extraction or heaviness, it possesses a light, yet richly textured mouth feel, brilliant balance, and a classy, clean finish where the wine’s class and polish shows. While deeply fruited and rich, it stays fresh, elegant, and weightless in the mouth, before turning grippy and structured on the finish. Gorgeous on all fronts, and much more approachable at this point than the grand vin, this impeccably put together beauty should be given 1-2 years of bottle age, and consumed over the following decade.