Domaine de l'Oratoire St Martin, Cairanne Haut Coustias, 2012

Domaine de l'Oratoire St Martin, Cairanne Haut Coustias, 2012Cairanne Haut Coustias is the top produce of the Domaine, and 2012 is an extraordinary vintage. Dark red and purple to the eye. It has a nose of ripe fruits, violet, nutmeg. Spicy, peppery, and roasted aromas, with a long finish marked by crushed stone and herbs. 60% Mourvdre, 20% Syrah and 20% Grenache, the Haut Coustias is made from 65 year old vines planted in the rocky, limestone rich, clay soils. The lieu dit of St Martin faces south west and

the attention level

helped to catch up the ten-day delay in the vine cycle

The grapes for this wine are the same as used to produce the Beaumes-de-Venise Muscat Cru

and stone fruits with subtle elements of minerality and honeycomb

This slightly precocious beginning of the vineyard’s cycle of growth gradually came back into balance during the month of July

contrasting with Grange

The 2015 vintage

The wine - as many Sherry - is not age-certified

In the mouth it is very meaty

however is perfectly ready to drink now

an eight year old Fino selected from a tiny number of casks in the Tio Pepe Solera still retaining a delicate layer of flor

comparable to the 2010 and 2002 vintages