Domaine de Montcalmes - Terrasses du Larzac - Magnum 2023
The Domaine de Montcalmès is one of the major references of the Terrasses du Larzac and more broadly of the great wines of Languedoc. Located about thirty kilometers northwest of Montpellier, it extends over the municipalities of Puéchabon, Aniane, Saint-Jean-de-Fos, and Saint-Saturnin-de-Lucian. The modern history of the estate begins in 1998, when Frédéric Pourtalié and his father Jean-Marie decided to leave the cooperative cellar to vinify their production themselves. Since then, Montcalmès has established itself with a style of great finesse, contrary to the too powerful or over-extracted Languedoc reds. The estate benefits from varied terroirs, between limestone, rolled pebbles, and fresh influences from the Larzac, which give the wines depth, balance, and tension. This Terrasses du Larzac 2023 in magnum embodies all the nobility of this signature, with a format particularly suited to aging. It is a cellar bottle par excellence, rare, serious, and sought after by lovers of great Mediterranean reds.
The Terrasses du Larzac 2023 cuvée is based on a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Grenache. The Syrah brings aromatic elegance, black fruits, spices, and a fine structure, while the Mourvèdre reinforces the depth, body, and Mediterranean dimension of the wine. The Grenache completes the ensemble with its flesh, fruit brightness, and ability to round the palate without weighing down the balance. The grape varieties are vinified separately to respect their own rhythm and then obtain the most harmonious blend possible. The long aging in already used oak barrels accompanies the material with precision, without imposing dominant woodiness. This patience gives the wine its silky texture, depth, and ability to evolve with elegance. The 2023 vintage delivers an expression that is both ripe, fresh, and structured, perfectly served by the magnum format.
In the glass, Domaine de Montcalmès Terrasses du Larzac 2023 reveals a deep, dark, and shiny robe, announcing a wine of beautiful density. The nose opens on blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum, with nuances of violet, licorice, pepper, garrigue, and graphite. The palate is ample but perfectly controlled, with fine tannins, velvety texture, and freshness that lengthens the whole. The wine has the depth of great southern reds but with an almost Burgundian elegance in touch and precision. The finish is long, spicy, mineral, and slightly smoky, leaving an impression of controlled power. This magnum will benefit from several years of aging in the cellar but can already be appreciated after a good aeration on a generous table. It will ideally accompany a rack of lamb, a rib steak, game birds, a lamb tagine, a Provençal stew, or a matured cheese.
Grape varieties: 60% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache
