2015 Domaine Courier Old Vine Grenache/Carignan Cote Catalanes

The 2015 Domaine Courier is made by Richard Case, the same winemaker who produces Orin Swift's D66 Grenache. The British-born winemaker studied viticulture in London in his early 20s before working harvests in New Zealand and France. Case is a Grenache wizard. His expertise and talents have brought us some of the most complex and tasteful Grenache driven wines in the world!

Handcrafted from two schist laden vineyards with extremely small yields (1/4 ton per acre), this limited 224 case production of 100-year-old Carignan and 70-year-old Grenache is aged in large barrels for 36 months to bring out the pure expression of the unique Maury terroir and it’s an incredible microclimate.

Aging: 36 Months in Large French Oak Barrels.

70% Grenache, 30% Carignan. The wine erupts with stewed strawberries, fresh plum, boysenberry, leather, dried herbs, and a hint of blood orange. The palate is rich and flavorful, well-integrated tannins coupled with a savory finish that keeps you coming back for more!

Lastly, the 2015 Courier checks in as normal blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Carignan, with the Grenache coming from 70-year-old vines and the Carignan from 100-year-old vines. Yields are on the order of an insanely low ¼ ton per acre. Aged three years in neutral, 500-liter barrels, it offers a similar weightless, elegant texture as well as beautiful notes of blackberries, currants, gamey garrigue, and olive tapenade. It’s more structured than the 2014 and I suspect will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of a decade. Hats off to Kimberly Jones for having the courage to follow her own path and creating a singular, unique wine. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck