2018 Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Porte du Ciel
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Tasting notes
La Porte du Ciel is a single vineyard of 3.2 ha close to the château, on a gentle slope heading down towards the sea. Very low-yielding old Grenache vines (10–12 hl/ha). Macerated for 60 days in tronconique, new-oak tanks. Aged for 24 months in new French oak barriques on lees. Unfiltered. Bottle 496 out of 4,000. Wow! This smells like mulberry liqueur. And the still-smoking stub of a fine cigar snubbed out in the dark, early hours of morning. I sat quite still after my first mouthful of this wine. It would almost be easier to understand if you approached it like a vin doux natural. The sheer concentration of it pins you to your chair. This is mulberries and raspberries reduced to a fiery chocolate. This is smoky balsamic syrup and black-velvet-lined handcuffs. This is eucalyptus and Stone Henge. Bourbon coconut and Marilyn Manson. Chipotle chocolate and gladiators. Treat this wine like port. Actually, thinking about it, it might be the only wine that can cope with the British Christmas tradition of devils on horseback . In fact, I should re-write my tasting note to those three words: devils on horseback. It comes with a health warning. Take heed. (TC)
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Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Tasted out of barrel, the 2018 Coteaux Du Languedoc La Clape Porte Du Ciel is all Syrah coming from a single parcel of vines in the La Clape AOC that was planted in the early 1990s. Always brought up in new French oak, its dense purple color is followed by a world class bouquet of crème de cassis, olive tapenade, licorice, iodine, smoked meats, and baking spices. Incredibly complex, full-bodied, and concentrated, it shows the softer, more charming style of the vintage, has no hard edges, flawless balance, and incredible length. It’s another magical wine from this estate I wish every reader could taste!
There's never a lack of intensity in the Negly wines, and the 2018 La Clape La Porte du Ciel continues that, boasting immense color and bold aromas of baked plums, spice cake and vanilla. Mostly Syrah aged in new French oak (the balance is Grenache), it's full-bodied and powerful, delivering mouth-coating flavor of mixed berries, with a rich, creamy texture and a lengthy finish that's framed by gently dusty tannins, a touch of warmth and hints of licorice. It should drink well on release and for a decade or more after that.