Domaine Mas de Lavail Terre d'Ardoise Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2007

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BN#292709

Domaine Mas de Lavail

Terre d’Ardoise is the domain’s red VdP, whose vines come from the region of Fenouillèdes, north-west of Perpignan. Hand-picked from older vines, this majority Carignan based wine is soft and warm with smooth tannins. It is an open wine whose fresh hints of ripe fruit make it an ideal combination with the best cuts of meat. The Carignan’s power is balanced by the Grenache in this excellent value wine, which could be mistaken for a good Côtes-du-Rhône!

Wine Advocate

The young domaine of vintner Nicolas Battle and his cousin Lionel L’Avail is based in Maury, but their 2007 Carignan Vieilles Vignes Terre d’Ardoise (into which is blended a bit of Grenache) comes from higher elevations further west in the so-called Fenouilledes. Aromas of black raspberry jam, crystallized ginger, and licorice lead to a rich, polished palate presentation with underlying suggestions of chocolate, and a finish tinged with smoke and salt. This eminently satisfying cuvee might well gain further complexity over the next several years in bottle.

Score: 88. —David Schildknecht, August 2009.

Wine Spectator

Offers lots of spice and rose petal on the nose, with plenty of ripe plum, berry and cherry flavors. Mouthfilling fruitiness, with notes of chicory and Asian spice on the finish. Drink now through 2012. 5,000 cases imported.

Score: 88. —Kim Marcus, 2009.