Chateau Ricardelle - Vignelacroix La Clape Rouge

Classification: AOP

Year: 2015

Alcohol: 14%

Grapes: 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Carignan

Any bottle with my last name on it deserves a fair trial. The cashier I bought this from (“Fine Wines by Liquor Select”) said this is a decent wine. I said back “of course it would be delicious... it has my last name on it”. He asked what my last name was, and I replied “Languedoc” to which he immediately bent down to one knee and said I could have the bottle for free.

Nah... I wish... people even in France don't seem to respect my royalty when it comes to these wines and my last name....

But jokes aside, I could tell I was in for a decent surprise when I opened the bottle. There was a somewhat dominating sweet scent, but I could also make out some nice earthy and oaky scents too. I could tell there would be a nice blend of rich, distinct, and fresh flavours to this one. The initial taste is dominated with sweet red berries such as raspberries and hints of red cherries. This sweetness then simmers into a blend of fresh and earthy minerals. Oaky notes such as cedar, vanilla, and oak can be made out as well. The body to this one is quite full, but not heavy. There are quite a range of flavours and notes to distinguish in this one, and it took me a few analytical sips to try and describe them. That said, they feel quite balanced despite the range. The finish to this wine is quite smooth as well. There is a bit of a spicy finish to this one. Flavours of cinnamon, rosemary, and pepper can be made at the tail end. The spices don’t linger for long though. Despite the deep flavours that can be made to this one, they don’t linger too long in your mouth afterwards and leave much of an aftertaste.

This one was quite nice with nice array of broad but well balanced flavours. In fact, one thing I did notice about this wine is that it seemed to taste better the day after I opened. That’s not to say the first sip when i did let it breathe was bad, but I couldn’t help but notice the flavours felt more balanced the next day. I generally give around 5-10 minutes to let the wine oxidize and breathe a bit, but this one may be worth doing a bit longer (say 30-60 minutes). Either way, I quite enjoyed this one and may pick up a few bottles again.

Pairings: Game, duck, and rib steak are the official food pairing recommendations for this one. I didn’t have any of these at the time, so I decide to pair it up with some chilli. It paired decently. Any red meat would go great!

Overall Rating: 4 Languedoc Crosses out of 5

Where To Get: https://www.liquorconnect.com/Products/Stores/774115

• Rosslyn Inn & Suites (Edmonton)

• Liquor Select (Edmonton)

• Sherbrook Liquor Store (Edmonton)

• Boudreau Wine and Spirits (St. Albert)