Chateau de Cesseras (France) Minervois La Liviniere 2001
Wine-pages columnist Rosemary George MW wrote very enthusiastically about the brand new ‘cru’ of Minervois La Liviniere in April 2003 (click here) , and since then I have tasted about a half dozen examples, with a phenomenal hit-rate of excellent wines amongst them: I believe this is the fifth to be ‘Wine of the Week’ or ‘Wine of the Month’. This 100% Syrah wine was a stand-out smash at Berry’s recent Press tasting (I was not the only person to think so – look out for a string of recommendations in the Sunday columns). It has minty, sweet, bold, leathery fruit on the nose, backed-up by toasty oak and a lovely core of blackcurrant and damson plum. Concentrated and dense on the palate, it is rich, smooth and dark, with a svelte, polished appeal, lots of sweet chocolate-coated black fruit and a fine plummy depth. Tannins are fine and ripe, and the balance is excellent. Berry Bros. & Rudd, £9.55.
