2008 Domaine of the Bee

Sommelier Wine Awards - Professional
http://www.sommelierwineawards.com/winners-2014
May 1, 2014 11:00

‘Despite seemingly high alcohol, I like the concentration. Black fruit, spice and black olive call for a rack of lamb,’ said Christophe Richelet of Victualler, while Franco Fortunati of L’Anima noted ‘coffee, chocolate and cherry flavours. Wiith powerful tannins, this is smooth, elegant and very long lasting.’

Jancis Robinson MW
The Financial Times - Professional

"The second vintage of UK professional wine buyer Justin Howard-Sneyd and his wife from Grenache and Carignan grown in Maury. Super-ripe nose, not unlike a young 2007 Châteauneuf. But with quite a bit of freshness on the palate and then some of Carignan’s grip, and some minerality, on the finish – though I am tasting this at a much earlier stage than I tasted the 2007. More assured and fruitier in the middle than the 2007 – though very strong! Much more flavour in here than in the average supermarket wine. 16+ / 20"

16

Joanna Simon
Joanna Simon's Blog - Professional
http://joannasimon-wineandfood.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/wines-of-week-24-september-2010.html
September 23, 2010 23:00

"A powerful, rich red with intense black-fruit aromas, edged with sweet garrigue herbs and smoky oak. The palate is rich-textured with fresh black-pepper, dark chocolate and coffee-bean flavours, together with a mineral note and the sort of underlying acidity that give the wine essential freshness but which will also keep it going for years to come."

Olly Smith
The Daily Mail - Professional
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2152715/OLLY-SMITH-Why-bigger-really-better.html?utm_source=DotB+Spreadsheet&utm_campaign=33d83888e4-The_Buzz_June_20126_6_2012&utm_medium=email
June 1, 2012 23:00

"First sip – yes this wine is huge and ogres everywhere would roar with delight at its mighty hoof. But there’s something more to it than pure brawn. It’s a wine with complexity – from the symphony of spices that lingers once you’ve sipped it to the sheer exuberance of the fruit. This wine feels exactly like it should – warming wine from a hot place."

"Feel the buzz! Grenache meets Carignan in a head-to-head fist fight for supremacy. Joyfully intense, rich, fruity, tongue-spanking wine with spice and concentration, to make your guests quiver and capitulate to your every whim."

Anthony Rose
The Independent - Professional
http://www.anthonyrosewine.com/journal/2010/9/domaine-bee-buzz
September 12, 2010 23:00

"With its pretty, embossed label, the 2008 Domaine of the Bee is a vivid, youthful ruby in colour, with sweet, smoky aromas of oak and mulberry, the fruit rich, ripe and fleshy, blackberryish with a spicy and almost chocolatey richness. It’s powerful stuff, New World in style, fleshy and fruit-laden with firm tannins and the saving grace of really good, savoury acidity."

Nathan Nolan
Mr Drink 'n' Eat - Professional
http://www.mrdrinkneat.com/2013/07/domaine-of-the-bee-open-house/
July 29, 2013 23:00

The 2008 promised much on the nose, a dark mineral blackberry beast. The first sip was all over you slathering wild berry & leather. But I found as I sipped more it settled down and became a bit tamer.

Jamie Goode
www.wineanorak.com - Professional
http://www.wineanorak.com/wineblog/grenache/domaine-of-the-bee-a-new-high-end-roussillon-wine

“Deep coloured. Vivid and powerful with dense blackberry and plum fruit and firm, spicy tannins. Concentrated and sweetly fruited but still fresh. It’s a bit like a dry vintage Port. The alcohol makes its mark, subduing the fruit characters on the nose a bit, but this is still a delicious wine in a modern mould. 91/100”

91