2009 La Pèira en Damaisela, Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc

The 2009 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac La Peira – roughly two-thirds Syrah, one-third Grenache – in both its (pre-) assemblage and as individual components. Bursting with heady, lilac-like sweet floral perfume that could be traced to its Grenache, along with liqueur-like cassis and black raspberry, this expands thrillingly on a viscous, subtly creamy yet persistently vibrant, juicy, and buoyant palate, with fresh ginger, nutmeg, and licorice adding complex spice and a Syrah-induced savor akin to salted roasted meat pan drippings serving for an umami rating approaching three digits on a hundred-point scale. An attractively rich undertone of chocolate is apt to recede slightly once this acquires its modest pre-bottling dosage of sulfur. This dynamic show should be worth following for the better part of a decade. Rob Dougan and his winemaker Jeremie Depierre demonstrated this April that La Peira en Damaiselais not about to rest on its early and entirely merited laurels. In addition to exciting 2010 raw materialsand superlative 2009 and 2008 renditions of the same four cuvees, they surprised me with three installments of a pure batch of Mourvedre that they had been holding back. For 2009, the blend for Las Floras, exceptionally, included some Cinsault to help insure the preservation of precisely these virtues. The La Peira 2008s were able to benefit from September rain that jump-started the late ripening of Syrah and Mourvedre, while moderate temperatures throughout the season served for balanced acidity and alcohol, although today – in something of a reversal of these vintages’ usual roles – the 2009s at this address are showing more florality, charm, and elegance than their 2008 counterparts If it were not already abundantly clear, this is now one of the three or four most exciting not to mention meticulously-run properties in the Languedoc, and as such is broadcasting the messa

The 2009 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac La Peira – roughly two-thirds Syrah, one-third Grenache – in both its (pre-) assemblage and as individual components. Bursting with heady, lilac-like sweet floral perfume that could be traced to its Grenache, along with liqueur-like cassis and black raspberry, this expands thrillingly on a viscous, subtly creamy yet persistently vibrant, juicy, and buoyant palate, with fresh ginger, nutmeg, and licorice adding complex spice and a Syrah-induced savor akin to salted roasted meat pan drippings serving for an umami rating approaching three digits on a hundred-point scale. An attractively rich undertone of chocolate is apt to recede slightly once this acquires its modest pre-bottling dosage of sulfur. This dynamic show should be worth following for the better part of a decade. Rob Dougan and his winemaker Jeremie Depierre demonstrated this April that La Peira en Damaiselais not about to rest on its early and entirely merited laurels. In addition to exciting 2010 raw materialsand superlative 2009 and 2008 renditions of the same four cuvees, they surprised me with three installments of a pure batch of Mourvedre that they had been holding back. For 2009, the blend for Las Floras, exceptionally, included some Cinsault to help insure the preservation of precisely these virtues. The La Peira 2008s were able to benefit from September rain that jump-started the late ripening of Syrah and Mourvedre, while moderate temperatures throughout the season served for balanced acidity and alcohol, although today – in something of a reversal of these vintages’ usual roles – the 2009s at this address are showing more florality, charm, and elegance than their 2008 counterparts If it were not already abundantly clear, this is now one of the three or four most exciting not to mention meticulously-run properties in the Languedoc, and as such is broadcasting the message that this region’s soils and old vines harbor abundant latent grandeur whose awakening awaits only the right combination of inspiration, labor, and luck. I just hope aspiring vintners and winery owners – not to mention wine lovers – the world over are listening! (David Schildknecht- erobertparker_com #196 Aug 2011)