Ratings:
91
Jeb Dunnuck - The Rhone Report
"Silky and perfumed, with an understated elegance about it that's similar to a north Rhone Syrah, the 2008 La Peira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Les Obriers de La Peira is a barrel aged blend of 59% Cinsualt and 41% Carignan that's all from the gravel and limestone soils of the Bellefeuille vineyard. It shows captivating aromatics of freshly snipped flowers, damp earth, iron, and mineral like notes that are supported by fresh raspberry and pit fruits. The wine follows suite on the palate and displays a medium bodied, energetic texture, beautiful integration of the acid, tannin, and fruit, and a clean, excellent finish. It's not a powerhouse and shines for its balance, purity, and energy. While I would drink it over the coming 2-4 years, this could surprise and age well. Time will tell." (03/11)
90 David Schildknecht - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"As is often the case with wines from Cinsault and Carignan, the 2008 Les Obriers de la Peira displays a smoky aromatic overtone and nut husk bitterness attributable to reduction. The alkaline, stony elements that underlie this rendition of Les Obriers only tend to underscore its initial reticence. Aeration, though, reveals impressive depth of juicy, primary black fruit with the nuttiness emerging in a long finish in the form of delightfully piquant walnut oil and chard, while a mouthwateringly saline aspect adds to the wine’s impressive arsenal of mineral matter. This rather 'serious' instantiation of its cuvee will I suspect be worth following for at least half a dozen years. That Les Obriers is La Peira's least expensive bottling must in large part be attributed to its reliance on two rather unfashionable grapes; but I am coming to believe that it is a mistake to suppose that this fine value cuvee will require drinking any sooner than do its more flamboyant, seductive, and expensive siblings. (The berry richness, nutty piquancy, and mineral complexity of the bottled 2007 on this occasion lived up to the highest expectations reflected in my issue 183 rating.)" (08/11)
Product Description:
"65% Cinsault, 35% Carignan. Aged in big wood - 44 hl. Carignan seems to dominate the nose. A bit tart and tough rather than the juice and fragrance of Cinsault. Drink 2011-2014. (JR)" 15.5 out of 20 points, Jancis Robinsons's Purple Pages (08/11)
Viticulture:
"Short pruning. Intensive fastidious work with the vines including working with the soil manually rather than with chemicals, de-suckering, crop thinning, shoot removal, and leaf plucking, green harvest."
"Gravelly alluvial deposits (Pliocene Age). These deposits were derived principally from the mountains of Late Jurassic (about 150 million years old) limestone to the north. The gravels (along with sand, silt, and clay) were laid down in stream channels and in what are known as alluvial fans (cones). Deep, porous, permeable, well drained and well aerated with sufficient clay content for hydric and cation nutrition needs, a significant positive given a non- irrigated regime, especially in times of low rainfall."
"100% manual picking into 10 kg stackable cagettes transported by air-conditioned van to the Chais. Double triage with sorting table with 6-10 people removing over or under-ripe grapes, further stems, and material other than grapes. Whole berries carried by conveyer belt to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks (crushed on entry to tank)." -Winery
Estate:
"The domaine began in 2004 - in a small stone barn halfway between Grange des Peres and Daumas Gassac. It is situated at the foot of the Larzac plateau, known for grazing sheep and Roquefort production. This is an area of warm summers and cold winters, and of poor stony soils scented with fennel, rosemary and thyme."
"La Peira is inspired by one belief: that with rigorous and uncompromising work in the vineyard and non-interventionist winemaking, the true character of this terroir may convey something of its beauty and wildness, something unique and expressive. This involves a meticulous approach to viticulture - very low yields, short pruning, de-suckering, crop thinning, shoot removal, leaf plucking, and green harvesting; the hand picking of perfectly ripe grapes in small cagettes; a double triage and sorting table and the careful elevage of small amounts of wine in new barrels."
"The team consists of winemaker Jeremie Depierre (a young vigneron with work experience at Chateau Margaux and Chateau Guiraud), Karine Ahton (a lawyer from the Languedoc), and Rob Dougan (a writer/ composer of music). " -Importer
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