2011 Mas des Brunes “Cuvée des Cigales” Côtes de Thongue...$16.99
(tiny yield of 25 hl/ha)
The Syrah dominated 2011 Cuvee des Cigales, which also incorporates a touch of very old vine Carignan and Grenache, comes from the Cotes de Thongue region of the Languedoc, which is close to the more widely known Terrasses du Larzac. It sports a lively, opaque purple/ruby color to go with Classic Languedoc notes of plums, leather, peppery herbs, resin and licorice. These come together nicely on the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, with a layered, full mid-palate and a great texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 4-5 years.
Rated 90/100 The Wine Advocate
"Claude and Isabelle Bertrand have utilized some of her brother Bruno Granier's ancient Carignan to supplement the 60% Syrah and 30% Grenache in their 2007 Cuvee des Cigales from the Cotes de Thongue. But even a "secret ingredient" that concentrated (as witness my reviews in this report of pure Carignan from Granier's La Font de l'Olivier) can at 10% level only go so far in explaining the striking personality of the Bertrand's wine, which gives me a "who turned out the lights?" feeling, followed by an enchanting romp in some very dark territory. Humus, peat, plum paste, dark chocolate, and game share billing with implosively intense, lightly-cooked blackberry and mulberry. The only drawback here is a hint of heat and rasp of tannin accentuating a bite of black pepper in the persistent finish. But this should prove fascinating and versatile over the next several years." - The Wine Advocate
