Courbissac, Les Traverses 2016

90 points Jeb Dunnuck

Jancis Robinson
"Mid crimson. Smooth and savoury as opposed to sweet with lots of stony sinew and fine polished tannins. This demands food. A little dusty and peppery on the end. Quite dense. Very dry finish."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Organic. This is drawn from the Estate's younger vines (under 18-40 years) and it's a blend of roughly equal parts of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, hand harvested from eleven parcels surrounding the cellar (in the heart of Cesseras). Les Traverses is the historic name of the terroir here, and these vineyards lie within the La Livinière cru of the Minervois appellation, as do all of Courbissac's vines. As for all of Claux's wines, the fruit for this wine was picked by hand into small boxes. Short, natural fermentations in concrete vat with 100% whole bunch and gently foot stomped. The ageing is short with Claux preferring to trap the wines freshness by bottling early. This is a cracking value, a pulpy, spicy and juicy red with dark cherry fruit and a twist of iodine. A wonderful introduction to the Domaine.