DOMAINE TOUR BOISÉE

Just to the north of Cobieres and to the east of the walled city of Carcassonne, lies Minervois.  The appellation has equally diverse soils like Corbieres but limestone and clay are its primary ones.  This is a warm region with a very Mediterranean climate.  The hills are covered with the local scrub, known as garrigue, forests and vineyards.  Our newest producer from the region is Domaine Tour Boisée.  The domaine dates back to 1826 and is still run by its descendants.  Now farming about 200 hectares of vines, the winery was recently certified organic.  Some of the great value discoveries of our trips came from this winery.  The 2013 Tour Boisee Minervois Rouge ($9.99) is equal parts grenache and syrah. The Minervois Blanc is a blend of Marsanne, Vermentino, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Macabeu and Muscat Petit Grain. The wine has lovely nectarine and yellow plum aromas, wet stone notes and a flavors of dried papaya and pineapple on the finish.  The “Marie-Claude” Minervois is the more serious workhorse wine. This is full blown Minervois made with equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. It is rich with flavors of deep red cherry, raspberry coulis and garrigue. With some polished tannins this wine is beautiful now but will age well for a couple more years. One of my favorit finds from Tour Boisee is the “Plantation 1905”.  It is field blend of 23 different grape varieties from a single parcel planted in 1905.  Everything is harvested at the same time and is all co-fermented.  It has a beautiful nose of violets, currants and iron. 

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