Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Kerbuccio Maury Sec 2015
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A more serious, structured wine than the Vieilles Vignes, the 2015 Maury Sec Kerbuccio is 80% Grenache and 20% Carignan that was brought up in 50% new demi-muids. Deep, rich, concentrated and full-bodied, yet always light on its feet and graceful, it offers fabulous southern France notes of roasted herbs, pepper, licorice and assorted dark fruits. It’s heavenly juice that tastes like it cost three times the price.
Range - 92-94 points -
Jeb Dunnuck
Sporting a deep, inky color, the 2015 Maury Sec Kerbuccio is fabulous stuff, as well as a smoking value. Blackberry jam, roasted herbs, black licorice, tapenade and saddle leather give way to a rich, concentrated, seamless red that has moderate acidity, sweet tannin and a great finish. The blend is 80% Grenache and 20% Carignan, aged in 50% new demi-muids, and as I said when I tasted it from barrel, it’s heavenly juice that tastes like it cost three times its price.
Other Vintages
2020-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine &
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
Recently purchased by Jean Marc Lafage, Chateau Saint Roch is located in the Maury Area of the Agly Valley, which is 15 miles from Perpignan and the Mediterranean Sea. The castle of Queribus, built by the Cantharis, at the top of the steep Corbières Mountain watches over the vineyards from the north. Each plot is now surrounded by black berry bushes, fig trees, pomegranate trees, cherry trees, carob trees, oaks, as well as fields of thyme, lavender and fennel.
The soil of the hills is made up of schiste clay with a limestone base and their altitudes vary between 120 to 370 meters. The wind, called here the "Tramontane", circulates in this corridor between Fenouillèdes and Corbières. The southern Catalan sun takes advantage of the refractive qualities of the schist from this ancient icy plateau to give St Roch its unique light.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
A northern point in France’s far southern Roussillon region, Maury is dominated by steep limestone cliffs and the castle of Queribus, which the French used as a defense outpost against the Spanish until 1659. Today it remains an important symbol of the presence of both cultures in the region.
Though Maury is famous for vins doux naturels (a style of fortified wine), Maury dry red wines are quickly becoming more in vogue and received their own appellation designation in 2011, called Maury Sec. As is the case in most of Roussillon, Grenache plays a key role here. The region’s schist-dominant vineyards, which climb up to 1,300 feet, are excellent for the production of Grenache of all styles.
For Maury dry red wines, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Syrah act as blending partners with Granche Noir. In the production of vins doux naturels, Grenache Gris and Blanc play a subsidiary role. The latter are characterized using the same terminology as that in Riveslates with those named as grenat or tuilé based on Grenache Noir and those described as ambré or blanc containing more Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris.