May 20, 2019
Vive Le Tigre! Everyday Red for All Summer Long

Jeanne and Olivier Coste - the siblings behind some of your favorite roses - had long been on the hunt for new red wine vineyards in the Languedoc. Their search for superb terroir came to an end in 2018 with the acquisition of Château des Adouzes, 100 acres of old vines and pristine soil in Faugères. Schist is king in the small appellation; the only region of the Languedoc with homogenous terroir throughout. This infertile rock is ideal for grape growing in the Mediterranean climate, forcing roots to dig deep into the fractures of the bedrock, and ultimately protecting them from drought during hot, dry summers. In these vineyards, 70+ year old Carignan, Grenach and Syrah vines flourished under the watchful eye of former winemaker, Jean-Claude Estève, and with 300+ years of winemaking to the Domaine Montrose name, the Coste family were eager to carry on the tradition of this great terroir.

The Carignan, Grenache and Syrah fruit for Le Tigre were all manually harvested before making their way to the cellar. There, whole cluster Carignan grapes were vinified with Carbonic Maceration. During this process, grapes are placed in sealed vats with carbonic dioxide, where natural occuring enzymes convert the sugar into alcohol inside their own skins. The Syrah and Grenache are vinified more traditionally - grapes were destemmed and vatted for 30 days. The three wines were then aged in steel tanks for 12 months before being blended together and bottled at the château.

The bright and complex Le Tigre shows everything there is to love about the popular blend of these three dark skinned grapes. From the Carbonic Carignan comes fresh, fruity acidity and vibrant, deep shades of plum in the glass. Grenache lends it’s reliable hand with a bouquet of dark fruit and blackberries. Finally, the Syrah brings it all home with a finish of spice, tannins and bramble fruits. Earthy but bright, juicy with spice. This everyday red is the perfect accompaniment to grilled meat, summer vegetables, and hearty pasta dishes (think lazy Sunday Bolognese! Who doesn’t love a tiger on their wine?

Château des Adouzes 2016 ‘Le Tigre’ Faugeres AOC