2021 Domaine of the Bee Carignan
- Retail
- £24.00
- Member
- £19.20
- Case
- £144.00
- Case (Member)
- £115.20
- Varieties
- Carignan
- Vintage
- 2021
- Country
- France
- Region
- Roussillon
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Bottle size
- 750 mL
- Drinking Window
- 2023 - 2030
Awards
- Title
- 90/100
- Year
- 2023
- Event
- The International Wine Challenge
- Description
Pure Carignan from the 80+ year old La Roque vineyard at Domaine of the Bee. Low yielding, concentrated and vibrant.
- Eyes
A vibrant bright purple red.
- Nose
Soft vanilla oak, opulent black fruit - black cherries & brambles and a waft of vanilla.
- Mouth
Top quality old-vine Carignan often possesses a brambly, wild blackberry, woodland character, and this is very evident this year - with a delicious earthiness allied with fresh black cherry yoghurt.
- Body
full
- Winemaking Notes
From a one hectare vineyard of 80+ year-old Carignan vines. Bush vines are hand-tended, and shoot removal and a little green harvesting ensure a very well balanced crop of fully ripe grapes. Hand harvested into small baskets and destemming without crushing to allow some intra-cellular fermentation to release colour prior to the full alcoholic fermentation. Slow temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel and a couple of 500L barrels before gentle pressing, and the wine for this single barrel bottling was matured in a 2-year-old 500L American oak barrel. No eggs or dairy used.
- Growing Conditions
An EXTREMELY cold January, with rare snow lying on the ground (briefly) marked the start of a year that was incredibly dry. Very low rainfall in a cool spring, and then a nice mini heatwave in June, but still very little rain. Two more heat spikes in mid July and late August, followed by September rains which finally allowed the vines a little moisture, and helped to swell the thick-skinned grapes. Most of the vineyards for our white and rosé were harvested before the rain, and most of our reds in a dry spell after the rainy spells. A good year for white and pinks, and a GREAT year for reds.
- Food Pairing
Carignan is especially good with charcuterie and wild boar sausage, but it also pairs well with grilled lamb, and most barbequed meats.
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