SOLD OUT! I can’t think of another producer in the world that makes more pleasure-bent wines than Jean-Marc Lafage. And his La Narassa red blend is going to make a lot of folks very happy.
A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah from 60+ year old, organically farmed vineyards, it’s a big, rich, supple, and flavor packed red that will make heads spin.
2016 Domaine Lafage La Narassa
Big, bold, and luscious red from Lafage!
SOLD OUT
I’m gonna’ get right to the tasting notes on this one. If you like Valpolicella Ripasso or super-ripe red blends from the Rhone, Priorat, or Paso Robles, you’ve got to try this. Concentrated, polished, and fine grained, this wows the palate with notes of cassis, dark cherry, white pepper, chocolate, black olives, and cedar. It’s a ton of wine for the money.
“The Domaine Lafage estate, run by the talented Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage, includes vineyards spread throughout the Roussillon, allowing them to make the most of the diverse terroirs and micro-climates. I struggle to think of another portfolio that encompasses anywhere close to this level of value, and the average quality to price (QPR) for these wines is just hard to believe!” That’s what Jeb Dunnuck had to say about Domaine Lafage when he was writing for the Wine Advocate.
And Lafage’s La Narassa is one of the estate’s finest values. Sourced from famed black schist soils near the village of Maury, in the northern Roussillon, this 80/20 blend of Grenache and Syrah is rich, ripe, and ready to drink. Lafage employs an interesting tactic in making this wine. He makes it in a semi-ripasso style by harvesting the grapes in successive passes, picking riper and riper clusters with each pass. Once at the cellars, the fruit is hand sorted and only the best berries are chosen for fermentation. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in concrete (80%) and French oak (20%).
In a nutshell, this tastes like a wine that costs three to four times the price. Perfectly fine without food, it would do wonderful things paired with comfort food staples like burgers, bbq, or lasagna. Take it your next dinner party and wow your friends. And don’t forget to tell them where you got it!
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville