Famille JM Cazes Domaine L’Ostal Minervois la Liviniere “Grand Vin” 2015

Owned by the team behind Lynch Bages and made from 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 10% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre from Minervois la Liviniere. This is immediately noticeable as a step up in quality as far as oak goes. There are loads of red fruits on the nose with vanilla, toasted coconut and it’s plum-a-liscious. Not shy by any means, it muscular, ripe and bold but there’s good savory tannin structure supporting all that fruit. It’s a bit like a fist in a velvet glove but again, there’s genuinely good concentration and balance here. A bold expression of Minervois.