La Livinière is a sub-AOC within Minervois as well as being an ancient, charming village. With Chateau Maris, British born Robert Eden focuses on a range of wines within the Languedoc region and “La Togue” is a small parcel farmed organically. This 2017, 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache, was fermented in concrete and minimally handled. The result is a deeply colored wine that pleases with its blackberry, slightly meaty and peppery aromas. Ultra smooth and harmonious, it also captures a hint of lavender or what the Languedoc people refer to as “garrigue.” I’ve visited Minervois 3 times and was at Chateau Maris not long after it opened. It is Demeter Certified and Eden was an early advocate of biodynamic farming. This wine was fermented by native yeasts and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The label is recycled paper.
Château Maris, Minervois La Livinière (Languedoc, France) 2017
By Norm Roby