COTES DU ROUSSILON ROUGE Noémie 'Les Garettes'

Category: Red

Country: France

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon

Grape variety: Syrah

Sweetness: Dry

Alcohol content: 15%.

Maturation in barrels: 18 months

Volume: 75 cl

Once upon a time, during a try-out of an opera dînatoire in a restaurant in Leuven in 2012, four Belgian friends were enchanted by the singing of a beautiful soprano with a ditto voice: Noëmie Schellens. Philippe Deneef, Hans Decroos, Eric Lanin and Stefaan Wauters - four fanatical and professional wine connoisseurs - were so enraptured that they decided "boom pats" to make magic potions (read top wines) which they would name after Noémie. And so it happened. In the following weeks and months, they bought several small vineyards in southern France. First grenache from Maury, then a piece of syrah from Montner and finally a beautiful plot of grenache noir in Tautavel. Then they started the real work. Franck Galangau, director of the cave Vignerons d'Agly, gave them the freedom to experiment and so our four operatic wine lovers were able to develop their own style. The choice of bottle and its painting also reflect their ambition to make a unique quality product. And so a dream came true: they made one white and three red Noémie wines. With these "Les Garettes", the four winegrowers try to produce the very best wine with the best grapes that one of their specific vineyards has to offer. On the exceptional 1.2-hectare plot called "Les Garettes", 35-year-old syrah vines bask in the sunshine. The plot is situated at an altitude of 350 metres near the village of Montner, at the foot of the Pyrenees. The soil is 100% slate: the ideal soil for the syrah grape. The winemakers keep the yields exceptionally low, which of course results in an extraordinary intensity of flavour. Of this "Les Garettes", only 2000 bottles will be released. After a rigorous manual selection of the best grapes, they are carefully vinified in new oak barrels from the best French barrel makers. An 18-month barrel maturation completes the process. The wine we get in the glass is sublime: spicy and poached black fruit, vanilla and liquorice. The acids support this well-balanced red giant, which very quickly convinces and intoxicates us with its generous flavours, noble tannins and juicy aftertaste with super bitters. Because of its fruit, you can drink it very young (from the second or third year), but you can also keep it until easily the tenth year if you want. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. Game stew, a leg of duck confit or a leg of lamb are all candidates for a place on the table where this 'Les Garettes' will be uncorked. Class wine!

N°: 557I