Chateau Coupe Roses Minervois 'Cuvee Orience'

Chateau Coupe Roses has been in the Le Calvez family since 1614. Situated on the high plateau around the historic village of Minerve - long considered one of the best sites in Minervois – the estate is managed by Francoise Le Calvez and her husband, oenologist Pascal Fissant. They farm their 16 acres according to the ecological principles of lutte raisonnee, or reasoned fight, a practical approach that dictates the use of synthetic sprays only when clearly necessary. It is a fight that Pascal, schooled in the benefits of organic ground covers and blessed with an arid climate, rarely loses.

The estate's Orience is their top bottling, and it contains 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache from some of the family's highest elevation vineyards. It is a stunning wine with a long life ahead of it. A rich and ripe nose of cassis, dark raspberry, pepper, cured meat, and smoke leading into a deep, full, and chewy palate. There's good grip to the fine tannins here, and the wine finishes long, complex, and super classy. Drink this powerful effort over the next 15 to 20 years.