La Terrasse d'Elise - Enclos 2023
La Terrasse d’Élise is one of the most respected estates in Languedoc, led by Xavier Braujou, a winemaker based in Aniane, in the Hérault. In a region long dominated by blends, the estate has distinguished itself through a very personal approach to single grape varieties, worked with precision, patience, and a great demand for texture. The cuvées of La Terrasse d’Élise are sought after for their finesse, freshness, and ability to reveal the nobility of Mediterranean grape varieties without excessive extraction. The work is based on low yields, fermentations with indigenous yeasts, and a desire to preserve the purity of the fruit. Enclos 2023 fully embodies this philosophy, highlighting Mourvèdre, a demanding, deep, and structuring grape variety. This cuvée expresses a darker, spicier, and more serious facet of the estate. La Terrasse d’Élise Enclos 2023 thus presents itself as a Languedoc red with character, both powerful, fresh, and remarkably controlled.
The Enclos 2023 cuvée is made from 100% Mourvèdre, a southern grape variety capable of producing wines of great depth when it reaches just the right maturity. Mourvèdre naturally brings a serious tannic structure, aromas of black fruits, spices, garrigue, fine leather, and sometimes slightly balsamic notes. At Xavier Braujou, it is worked with precision, with limited extractions to preserve the elegance of the grain and avoid any heaviness. Available sources mention aging for about 12 months in oak barrels, which supports the wine's density without masking its Mediterranean expression. The 2023 vintage produces a still young, rich, and structured red, but carried by a notable freshness in the mid-palate. Enclos 2023 thus stands out for its balance between contained power, sapidity, and length. It is a cuvée of patience, which will benefit from being waited for or aerated for a long time before tasting.
On tasting, La Terrasse d’Élise Enclos 2023 shows a deep, dark, and shiny red robe. The nose may evoke wild blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, tapenade, garrigue, black pepper, blond tobacco, and a touch of fine leather. On the palate, the wine is ample, dense, and enveloping, with a serious but never heavy body. The tannins are present, still young, but finely drawn, supported by a freshness that lengthens the finish. Mourvèdre here expresses its aromatic power and depth while maintaining a beautiful sapidity. This red will ideally accompany a confit lamb shoulder, a matured ribeye steak, duck with olives, a Provençal stew, a lamb tagine, roasted vegetables, or Mediterranean herb cuisine. It can be enjoyed after decanting, but its balance and structure will allow it to evolve favorably for several years in the cellar.
Grape variety: 100% Mourvèdre
