Description

Domaine Lafage  2015 Tessellae Old Vines Carignan
100% Carignan | Alc: 14.5% – Smooth and Supple
Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Winemaker’s notes:
Carignan has had a rather tumultuous history in the south of France. Once seen as a necessary grape to spur the recovery of the region after the plague of phylloxera in the late 19th century, primarily for its ability to produce high yields, it has been largely replaced with “nobler” varieties such as Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. This is unfortunate – for as challenging as the variety is to love when the vines are young, they are superb with half a century under their belt. Jean-Marc Lafage luckily resisted the call to uproot and replace this variety, and he possesses Carignan vines well over 70 years old on schist with which he makes the Tessellae Carignan. 100% Carignan from old vines.
“Tessellae” is the word for “mosaic” in Latin.

Critical Acclaim:
“A sensational value the readers should snatch up is the 2015 IGP Cotes Catalanes Tessellae Carignan Vieilles Vignes! This full-bodied, ripe, sexy red has incredible purity of fruit, no hard edges and classic notes of blackberries, plums, spice and pepper. It’s a screaming deal. 92 Pts – The Wine Advocate

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