last update :
31/03/09
© Tour du Bon 2007 Tous droits réservés
The estate's Classic red, truly the "blood of the earth", requires the whole of the fruit in its production. It follows the course of time and the interaction between nature, the vine, and man. Each vintage punctuates our lives with landmarks that tell a story. The sensations are often mixed, evoking the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms, as with the 1999 Tour du Bon red. The deep colour, which shades from purplish to brick red with age, is clear and intense. This wine is allegedly more accessible than the Saint Ferréol, but has a great aromatic complexity associated with the 3 or 4 grape varieties it contains. A high proportion of Grenache lends cherry notes as a counterpoint to the spicy, pepper accents of Mourvèdre, with Cinsault uniting the whole. On the palate, the tannic framework can be powerful in youth, mellowing to silky meatiness with age. This wine may be enjoyed now with peppered rib of beef, a prune tagine or, after a few years, with a leg of lamb with broad beans (55% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 5% Carignan). Serve at 22°C, decant for older vintages.