An intense red garnet color. On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild blackberry). The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liqueur and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshiness of the wine. Hints of licorice and vanilla on the finish, which gives the wine length and complexity. Drink between 1 and 8 years.
"I love the dark and meaty aromas of this Lirac, which also has an herbal freshness and just a hint of bitter chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied with licorice and restrained forest berry fruit on the velvety palate. Extremely well-balanced finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (April 2024), 92 pts
"This wine is intensely juicy with overripe blackberries and cassis with soft accents of fresh thyme, rosemary and black peppercorn. Full-bodied and balanced, its vibrant acidity tempers youthful tannins and gives way to a ripe, red-fruited mid-palate. A savory layer follows, loaded with crushed blackberry, briny black olives, granite and flaky salt. Aerate well before enjoying. — Anna-Christina CABRALES"
- Wine Enthusiast (September 2024), 92 pts
"The 2021 Lirac Clos de Sixte shows the more focused, mid-weight style of the vintage, yet brings attractive notes of red and black cherry along with some background peppery herbs, medium body, and a good finish. Based on 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre, drink this complex, satisfying Lirac over the coming 4-5 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 88 pts
"A solid, dense and pulpous Lirac with a spicy kick. It shows aromas of blackberries, dark plums, barbecued meat and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with plush tannins. Fleshy and vivid with so much grilled herbs and peppery spiciness. Structured and serious finish with a touch of chewiness. From organically grown grapes. Drink now."
- James Suckling (May 3rd 2024), 91 pts
"Deep, dusky, expressive, and decisively luxurious, with rich, ripe notes of blackberry, espresso, and dark chocolate layered atop a suede texture that caresses and satisfies."
- The Tasting Panel Magazine (July 2023), 94 pts
"There’s no missing the huge black-fruit character of this full-bodied but well-balanced Lirac. Excellent integration of tannins, fruit and alcohol, Touches of tar, licorice and Mediterranean herbs add interest, particularly at the supple finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."
- James Suckling (February 2022), 92 pts
"Another top-notch vintage for this property, the 2018 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte looks as if it may rival the 2016. It's 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, aging in concrete (70%) and barrels (30%). Floral notions mark the nose, while flavors of raspberries and apricots appear on the full-bodied palate. This seems creamy-supple at first, with steadily building tannins on the lengthy finish. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 91-93 pts
"Whispers of smoke and tobacco lend earthen complexities to ripe but pristine blackberry and cherry. It's a bold, voluptuous wine framed in firm, slightly charry tannins but elegant through a long finish. Ready now but should hold well through 2027. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 91 pts
"The Lirac from this estate is the 2017 Lirac Clos de Sixte. It's another deep purple-colored effort offering powerful notes of ripe black cherries, melted licorice, violets, and pepper. Full-bodied, forward, ripe, and flamboyantly styled, it's packed with fruit and texture. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (August16th 2019), 92 pts
"Juicy and compact still, with concentrated plum and black currant paste flavors coated with licorice and backed by a roasted alder spine. Lingering bay and menthol hints too. Drink now through 2026. 3,000 cases made, 1,800 cases imported. - JM"
- Wine Spectator (October 2021), 91 pts
"Aged in a mix of tanks (70%) and barrels (30%), the 2017 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre. Hints of vanilla and licorice accent dark, cola-like notes and plummy fruit fruit in this full-bodied, plush, velvety-textured wine. It should drink well for 5-6 years. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 90-92 pts
"The 2016 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a terrific wine, easily the rival to many Châteauneufs from across the river, starting with its alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries. A blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, this full-bodied wine is lush and concentrated on the palate, then turns velvety on the long finish. I'd treat it like a Châteauneuf du Pape in terms of cellaring: hold it for a few years, then drink it over the next 15. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 233, October 2017), 93+ pts
"Fleshy plum and black-cherry flavors are juxtaposed by dark shades of anise, crushed granite and sage in this bold, richly textured wine. Polished and penetrating, the wine is lifted by tangs of crushed mineral on the midpalate. It drinks beautifully now but should continue to improve through 2026. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (March 2019), 93 pts
"Year in, year out, the Clos de Sixte Lirac is a superstar wine, and the 2016 Lirac Clos De Sixte doesn’t break the trend. Made from 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, brought up in 30% oak, this beauty boasts loads of dark fruits, peppery herbs, graphite, and crushed rock. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and powerful, it stays polished and elegant on the palate, with the beautiful 2016 purity of fruit front and center. Drink it any time over the coming 7-8 years."
- Jeb Dunnuck (September 26th 2018), 92 pts
"The 2015 Lirac Clos de Sixte comes from an appellation that shares a similar terroir with Chateauneuf du Pape, yet is located just across the river, on the western side of the Rhone. It’s a serious, large scaled, voluptuous effort that that has lots of ripe tannin, a bid mid-palate and copious amounts of blackberries, black cherries, scorched earth, licorice and roasted herbs. One of the bigger boned and concentrated reds in the lineup, it will have a decade of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 227, October 28th 2016), 91-93 pts
"(raised in a combination of concrete vats and new and used barriques for 16 months): Opaque ruby. Powerful dark berry, licorice and smoky mineral aromas, along with suave floral and peppery spice accents. Smooth and fleshy on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and lavender pastille flavors sharpened by a hint of white pepper. Deftly blends richness and vivacity and finishes long and sweet, with supple tannins lending gentle grip. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (June 2016), 91 pts
"A year in, year out success, the 2014 Lirac Clos de Sixte has lots of framboise and strawberry notes to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple, forward and sweetly fruited profile on the palate. Made from 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre that was raised in a combination of stainless steel and smaller barrels, it has fine tannin and an already delicious, hard to resist style. Drink it on release and over the following 4-5 years. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 221, October 2015), 88-90 pts
"Features a solid, fleshy core of steeped plum and blackberry paste flavors, inlaid with anise and graphite details. The brambly spine in well-embedded through the finish. Drink now through 2020. 6,000 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (October 2016), 91 pts
"A gorgeous looking Lirac, and one of the strongest efforts from this up-and-coming appellation, the 2013 Lirac Clos de Sixte is comprised of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre and was brought up in 70% concrete tank and 30% in small barrels. Medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and bright acidity, it has classic black raspberry, creamy licorice and spice in its layered, elegant and lively profile. It will drink nicely on release and evolve through 2021. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 215, October 2014), 90-92 pts
"The 2013 Lirac Clos de Sixte is smokin’ good, especially given it’s from the 2013 vintage. Deep ruby/purple in color, with lots of cassis, black raspberry, licorice, toasted spice and a touch of graphite, it ismedium to full-bodied, pure, elegant and layered, with high quality tannin. It’s flat out outstanding and will have 10-12 years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 221, October 2015), 90 pts
In the 14th century, during their stay in Avignon, the popes built a papal castle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Impressed by the area’s exceptional terroir surrounding the castle, Pope Jean XXII planted the ...
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