KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"The 2022 Lirac Cuvée De La Reine Des Bois checks in as 40% Syrah and the rest equal parts Grenache and Mourvèdre. It's a killer bottle of wine that has both red and black fruits intermixed with notions of peppery garrigue, flowers, melted licorice, and graphite. With a rare level of purity and precision, it's medium to full-bodied, has a supple, layered mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish."

- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 93 pts

"A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. Opens with a dark red fruited nose. Elegant and silky on the attack leading to a layered, fresh palate and a long, fine finish. A blend of biodynamic cultivated 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, and 33% Mourvedre. 15% of the wine was aged in oak barrels for one year. - Don WINKLER"

- International Wine Review (Kysela Père et Fils Importer: 30 Years Importing High Quality, High Value Wines ; July 26th 2024), 94 pts

"Blackberries, dark berries, dried thyme and sweet spices on the nose follow through to a medium body with fine tannins. Round, fruity and juicy with a transparent character. Precise and well-balanced with a flavorful finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.."

- James Suckling (June 2023), 91 pts

 

- Wine Enthusiast (August 27th 2024), 90 pts

"A core of violets is enveloped in blackberry, red currant, black licorice, thyme and mint, and gently framed by warm baking spice. The palate is silky with dark fruits taking center stage. Absolutely delicious and captivativating, this should hold well through 2035+. — Anna-Christina CABRALES"

- Wine Enthusiast (December 2023, Best of Year issue), 95 pts - Editors' Choice

"Fragrant nose of black and blue berries, together with delicate notes of licorice, sandalwood and bergamot. Rich and concentrated, but decisively dry. The fine tannins have a wonderful bitter-chocolate flavor and drive this full-bodied wine over the palate with astonishing briskness. Very long, powdery finish with plenty of spicy complexity. A cuvee of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."

- James Suckling (August 2022), 94 pts

"Offering more density, the 2020 Lirac La Reine De Bois has terrific purity in its black raspberry and darker cherry fruits as well as violet, flowers, and sappy garrigue-like aromatics. Beautiful on the palate as well, it's medium-bodied, has fine tannins, a seamless, pure, gorgeous texture, and a great finish. It’s a seriously good Lirac (probably the best in the appellation) that will evolve for a decade.”

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 92 pts

"This Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre blend grows on 40-year-old vines among the galets roulés – large stone pebbles, on sand and clay soils. While 10% is fermented in used casks, 90% of the wine goes in stainless steel. It’s a garden of heather and sage, with chocolate mint and salted, cured meats and anise. Its prowess shows in its red fruit aromas, its elegant mouthfeel, and freshness on the palate."

- The Tasting Panel (January/February 2022), 95 pts

"Stunningly fresh and pure forest-berry and herb aromas pour from the glass of this rich, yet beautifully proportioned Lirac. Beautiful integration of tannin, fruit and alcohol on the full yet silky and fresh palate. Long, velvety finish that pulls you back for more. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

- James Suckling (February 2022), 94 pts

"Moving to the 2019 reds and a blend of 40% Syrah and 30% each of Mourvèdre and Grenache, the 2019 Lirac La Reine Des Bois reveals a deep purple hue as well as a masculine, mineral-laced bouquet cassis, framboise, ground pepper, graphite, and smoked meat. The Syrah dominates the nose at present yet it shows more Grenache sexiness on the palate and is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, great tannins, and a beautiful finish. There are enough tannins and underlying structure to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age, yet it should be 10-15 years wine. It’s always in the running for the Lirac of the vintage, and bests many a top Châteauneuf du Pape."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 92-94 pts

 

- Wine Enthusiast (December 2023, Best of Year issue), 92 pts

"A tank sample of the 2018 Lirac La Reine des Bois suggests yet another top vintage for this reliable cuvée. It's more "red fruits" than the 2017, but it's still fully ripe, with velvety tannins, ample weight and power on the palate and a bright, vibrant finish. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #256, October  2019), 91-93 pts

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"Black plum and mulberry flavors explode in this luscious, intensely concentrated blend of Syrah (40%), Grenache (30%) and Mourvèdre (30%). It's a touch jammy on the palate but structured by crisp red currant acidity and fine-grained, grippy tannins. At peak now–2024. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 93 pts

"The flagship is the 2017 Lirac La Reine Des Bois, a Mourvèdre-heavy blend that includes 30% each of Syrah and Grenache. Its deep purple color is followed by stunning notes of blackberries, cassis, graphite, earth, and peppery herbs. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and voluptuous, it has no hard edges, remarkable purity, and a blockbuster finish. It's a decidedly sexy, forward, opulent wine from this estate to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (August 16th 2019), 93 pts

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"Not yet bottled at the time of my visit, but the 2017 Lirac La Reine des Bois was blended. It's 40% Syrah and 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% aged in barriques and the rest kept in tank. There is a slight cedary note and hints of baking spices, but the focus is on layers of plush, ripe fruit. Cherries—both red and black—mark the full-bodied, velvety-textured palate, lingering on the long finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #256, October  2019), 91-93 pts

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"One of the finest releases from not only this appellation but the entire Southern Rhône, the 2016 Lirac La Reine Des Bois is a unique blend of close to equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that’s brought up in 30% used barrels, the balance in stainless steel. It literally jumps from the glass with loads of blackberry and currant fruits, graphite, charred meats, and peppery herbs. Deeply colored, medium to full-bodied, with sensational purity, give bottles a year or two and enjoy through 2028. It’s another brilliant wine from this estate that’s landed on both feet after the passing of winemaker Christophe Delorme in 2015."
- Jeb Dunnuck (September 26th 2018), 95 pts

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"Violet and licorice candy lend spice and perfume to this plump, penetrating blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. It's loaded with sun-kissed cherry flavor but shaded by umami notes of mushroom and leather too. Luscious but sleek, this polished wine is marked by fine, feathery tannins. Ready now it should improve through 2026. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (March 2019), 93 pts, Editor's Choice

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"The 2015 Lirac La Reine des Bois continues this estate's mastery of the appellation, combining hints of vanilla with black cherry fruit in a full-bodied, richly textured and tannic wine. The blend is 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre, with up to 15% being aged in barriques. Longtime readers will be happy to know that the 2010 (still youthful) and the 2006 (nearing maturity) are drinking well. Based on that, expect this vintage to drink well through at least 2030.- Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 233, October 31st 2017), 93 pts

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"Moving to the reds from Lirac, the estate releases two cuvées: the base la Dame Rousse and the flagship La Reine des Bois. The 2015 Lirac Cuvée de la Reine des Bois is a beauty and has a distinct minerality in its black raspberry, black cherry, graphite and bouquet garni-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully rich, supple and textured on the palate, yet with plenty of underlying grip and structure, it should hit the ground running and drink nicely through 2025. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 28th 2016), 90-92 pts

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"The 2014 Lirac Cuvee de La Reine des Bois is an incredible effort that transcends the vintage and is easily the wine of the vintage from Lirac. Possessing fabulous purity and elegance, with medium to full-bodied richness, classic notes of crème de cassis, caramelized meats, violets and licorice, sweet tannin and a great finish, I doubt it will be the longest lived example of this cuvée, but man, hats off to the team for this killer wine in a difficult vintage! - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 28th 2016), 93 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Cuvee de la Reine des Bois