Domaine Lafage - Tessellae Vieilles Vignes Carignan 2018 (750ml)

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Producer	Domaine Lafage
Country	France
Region	Languedoc-Roussillon
Subregion	Cotes Catalanes
Varietal	Carignan
Vintage	2018
Sku	3760031472647
Size	750ml

   

Carignan has had a rather tumultuous history in the south of France. Once seen as a necessary grape to spur the region’s recovery after the plague of phylloxera in the late 19th century, primarily for its ability to produce high yields, it has been largely replaced with “nobler” varieties such as Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. This is unfortunate – for as challenging as the variety is to love when the vines are young – they are superb with half a century under their belt. Jean-Marc Lafage luckily resisted the call to uproot and replace this variety, and he owns a Carignan vineyard of seventy-year-old vines on the hills between the villages of Maury and Tautavel.

Tasted out of bottle, the 2018 Côtes Catalanes Tessellae displays a spicy, complex style that carries vivid red and blue fruits, leather, licorice, tree bark, and peppery herbs aromas and flavors. Playing in the more medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it has solid purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a good finish. Enjoy this plump, pleasure-bent effort over the coming 3-4 years.