Commanderie des Hospitaliers Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre 2019
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Wong
Wilfred
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
This is a seductive and elegant wine, with rich raspberry and sandalwood flavor.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Commanderie des Hospitaliers Grenache - Syrah - Mourvedre spins a tale from the Old World with its attractive rusticity. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of dried earth, tree bark, and tart berries. Enjoy it with BBQ baby back ribs. (Tasted: August 2, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2021-
Suckling
James
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Enthusiast
Wine
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Wong
Wilfred
Located 6 miles away from the Mediterranean sea, between Beziers and Narbonne, Domaine Commanderie des Hospitaliers is a historical vineyard founded in 1192.
The 10 hectares vineyard (25 acres), adjacent to the Domain of Prei¨ssan, grows on a clay and limestone soil and produces wine with the appellation IGP Pays Cathare. The origin of this appellation comes from the religious heritage of Catharism in the area where lords and people converted themselves to this new religion. Historically, the Christians were opposed to the Cathars and this debate led to the sadly famous Albigensian crusade. The IGP Pays Cathar includes the Medi- terranean coast and the plateaus of the Minervois up to the mountain chain of Aude.
The domain has been owned by one of the last progeny of the illustrious Admiral Bailli de Suffren, one of the greatest French naval officer in history. Suffren de Saint Tropez started his career as commander of the order of Malta, which had a purpose of suppressing piracy along the North African coast. He became a well-known war strategist thanks to many victories won in the Royal Navy during the American Revolution and fought along with Lafayette during the war of independence.
Today, the estate owner Frederic Gely and the famous oenologist Claude Gros, are producing an elegant and harmonious wine.
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.
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.