Château la Vernède Languedoc 2017

Another serious wine made with consulting help from Claude Gros, the inky colored 2017 Languedoc boasts a pure, powerful bouquet of ripe berry fruits, flowers, exotic spices, and beautiful minerality. Full-bodied, impeccably balanced, pure, and elegant, it's a rock star barrel sample well worth seeking out. The blend is a mix of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah, all from limestone soils, that’s still aging in tank.

The promising 2017 Languedoc from Chateau la Vernede (part of the Paux-Rosset family of wines) is a blend of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache, aged in tank. Marked by notes of purple raspberries and hints of dusty earth, it's medium to full-bodied but not overly concentrated—just a juicy, mouthwatering red for early consumption.