2021 Domaine de Marcoux La Lorentine Lirac, Northern Rhone

Dark, full red; the nose has a restrained aroma led by blackberry, carries a sure, rather neat sweetness, shows some oily southern tones, as it should. The palate serves attractive, suave content with spark in its red fruits, has a good tone, the tannins well on the inside, a snug fit. 2023, decant.

★★★★ John Livingstone-Learmonth drinkrhone.com

Marcoux’s biodynamically farmed Lorentine vineyard lies in the heart of the Lirac appellation on the red clay, limestone and galet soils of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres (in the valley of Balouvière). Over many years, the Armeniers have been slowly peeling back the layers of Lirac’s neglected terroir, restoring life to the soils through cultivation and organic/biodynamic practice, and producing wines worthy of this appellation’s excellent terroir. The 2020 is a blend of Grenache (50%) and equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre, fermented using wild yeasts and raised for 15 months in concrete and old wooden barrels.
 
This is brilliant. A pure fruited, perfectly balanced wine, it has both terrific intensity and wonderful finesse. Expect a fine, almost Northern Rhône-like weight in the mouth, with layers of tender berry fruit, baking spice and stony minerality. There’s something pretty from the Syrah and something deep and inky from the Mourvèdre—but above all there is great class. A bargain from a great year that should not be missed by Rhône lovers.