La Pèira vintages 2006-2011 pictured
Posted here are the Wine Advocates notes (from Jeb Dunnuck) as part of a La Pèira vertical tasting of the grand vin and second wine (Las Flors) spanning from 2005 to 2016.
It’s a decade’s worth of work. “Fruit of the vine and work of human hands”, the passage runs, and what follows here is the long work of many hands over a decade’s worth of days and nights, fiery middays, and chilly dawn starts. Forty seasons, and for the most part, each day a day of work done well.
The Recent 2015 and 2016 La Pèira Vintages
The notes included the great first reviews of the 2015 and 2016 vintages.
The main headline points are:
• 2015 La Pèira and 2015 Las Flors de la Pèira for the first time rated equally (94 – 96+)
The 2015 and 2016 vintages have seen the Las Flors, La Pèira’s second wine, rated on a par with the grand vin. For the first time both the 2015 La Pèira and 2015 Las Flors de la Pèira were equally rated: (94 – 96)+.
The 2015 La Pèira is: “a bigger, richer, more concentrated wine than the Las Flors, and offers serious notes of graphite, wood smoke, currants and crushed rocks. Tannic, backward and structured”.
The 2015 Las Flors de la Pèira is: “full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent, yet always pure and impeccably balanced, it’s going to be just about impossible to resist on release.”
• 2016 La Pèira and 2016 Las Flors de la Pèira: “This will be another brilliant vintage for the cuvee”
The 2016 La Pèira is rated (95 – 97) with the words: “This will be another brilliant vintage for the cuvee”.
And the Las Flors de la Pèira 2016 (rated (93-96) with the note: “The 2016 offers lots of both red and black fruits, spice and pepper, with medium to full-bodied richness, impressively sweet tannin and a finesse-oriented style”.
We’ll post notes on the Matissat (Mouvedre) and the La Pèira white in another post, along with more on the 2015 and 2016 vintages at La Pèira (including great reviews for the third wine, the red Obriers de la Pèira).
But here follow notes on the Grand Vin and the second wine.
La Pèira 2005-2016
2005 La Pèira
97 RP
The first vintage for the estate, and one of the great vintages for the cuvée, the 2005 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is a big, rich, serious effort that’s still uber concentrated and structured, yet perfectly balanced and elegant, with no heaviness or weight on the palate. Loaded with notions of black currants, licorice, graphite, smoked meats and minerality, this beauty put an exclamation point on the term “Blockbuster!” Still lively and fresh, it’s a joy to drink today, but will cruise for another decade.
Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2016 – 2026
2006 La Pèira
95 RP
The 2006 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira comes from a cooler vintage where the team used additional saignée to boost the concentration level. Deep, rich and concentrated, it’s starting to show some maturity in its darker, chocolaty fruits, currants, licorice, and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied and beautifully balanced, it’s drinking right in its maturity window but has plenty of life. I would drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will certainly keep longer.
Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2016 – 2021
2007 La Pèira
98 RP
A true blockbuster is the 2007 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, which is one of the more Syrah-dominated releases with 68% Syrah and the rest a mix of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Utterly captivating in its sexy, exuberant, overflowing array of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, lavender and incense, this beauty has full-bodied richness and no hard edges, with sweet, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s up there with the handful of greatest wines I’ve tasted from the south of France, and should continue to knock your socks off over the coming 8-10 years. Drink Date 2016 – 2026 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2008 La Pèira
95 RP
A hidden little gem, the 2008 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira offers a savory, complex, full-bodied, elegant style that shines in the vintage, and in fact, it might be one of the best wines from the south of France in the vintage. Giving up a terrific perfume of peppery herbs (there’s that classic Languedoc resinous scrub brush character), black fruits, truffle and crushed rock, it has beautiful mid-palate concentration, sound underlying structure and an impeccably balanced, age-worthy, lengthy feel. It shows incredible freshness and purity today, but will keep easily through 2026. It’s certainly not one of the most exuberant vintages here, yet it shows incredible class.
Drink Date 2016 – 2026 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2009 La Pèira
99 RP
I continue to absolutely love the 2009 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, and where the 2010 shows a cool, Bordeaux-like elegance and austerity, the 2009 is pure southern France in its exuberant, sexy, voluptuous and hedonistic personality. Black raspberries, spice-box, licorice and cured meats all emerge from this full-bodied, sexy, beast of a wine. It’s worth noting that this is the first vintage were they made the final blend right after the vinification and before going into barrel. There’s no harm cracking this beauty today, but it will certainly keep for another decade or more. Drink Date 2016 – 2026 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2010 La Pèira
97+ RP
One of the standouts is the 2010 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, and it might be the best in the lineup at maturity. Made from a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was brought up all in barrel, this full-bodied beauty shows a deep, concentrated, structured and cooler style to go with tons of black fruits, minerality, iron and a beef blood-like quality that comes out with time in the glass. Still youthful and fresh, with a touch of austerity, it needs another 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep through 2030.
Drink Date 2019 – 2030 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2011 La Pèira
96 RP
More sexy in style than the 2012, the 2011 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira offers fabulous notes of black raspberry, currants, beef blood, graphite and chocolate that continue to change and develop in the glass. A big, full-bodied, textured Languedoc, it shows the sunny nature of the vintage, has solid mid-palate depth, plenty of fine tannin and a hedonistic, yet elegant slant that’s impossible to resist. It should cruise for another decade. Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2016 – 2026
2012 La Pèira
92 RP
Perfumed, spicy and complex, with lots of red and black fruits, toasted spices, Provencal garrigue and leather, the 2012 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is medium to full-bodied, upfront, charming and already drinking beautifully. It should keep through 2022. Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine AdvocateDrink Date 2015 – 2022
2013 La Pèira
93 RP
Showing a more open, supple and elegant profile now than when I tasted it at the domaine, the 2013 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is a medium to full-bodied, seamless, nicely concentrated wine that has fine, polished tannin, solid overall concentration and beautiful notes of black raspberries, violets, crushed rocks and roasted herbs. It’s already accessible with a decant, yet should be at its best from 2018-2026. Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2018-2026
2014 La Pèira
(93 – 96)
One of the wines of the vintage will be the 2014 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira comes from a single parcel of vines just beside the estate and is a mix of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s raised in 40% new barrels. Its inky color is followed by fabulous notes of blackberries, pepper, beef blood and violets. Big, rich, full-bodied and nicely balanced, with a great mid-palate and tons of chocolatey fruit on the finish, it’s less concentrated than the 2015 yet will evolve nicely on its balance. Issue Date 28th Apr 2016 Source 224, The Wine Advocate
2015 La Pèira
(94 – 96)+
A blend of 45% each of Grenache and Syrah, with the balance Mourvedre, the 2015 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is brought up mostly in older oak, yet has a small percentage in new. It’s a bigger, richer, more concentrated wine than the Las Flors and offers serious notes of graphite, wood smoke, currants and crushed rocks. Tannic, backward and structured, don’t even think about touching bottles for at least 3-4 years. Issue Date 28th Apr 2017 Source 230, The Wine Advocate
2016 La Pèira
(95 – 97)
This will be another brilliant vintage for the cuvee, and the 2016 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is a more Syrah-dominated cuvee: 70% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre. The change in the blend was due to the difficulty in Grenache in 2016 for the region, and the Las Flors blend is shifted to include less Grenache as well. This 2016 has terrific notes of cassis, pepper and ample meatiness, full-bodied richness, sweet, sweet tannin and a beautiful elegance and purity that makes it a gorgeous drink even today. More open and supple than the 2015, it should drink nicely on release, yet evolve gracefully on its balance and purity Issue Date 28th Apr 2017 Source 230, The Wine Advocate
Las Flors de la Pèira 2005-2016
2005 Las Flors de la Pèira
94 RP
A fabulous wine that sports a still youthful ruby color, the 2005 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira offers a complex, meaty, masculine profile that continues to show more and more fruit with time in the glass. Ripe black cherries, black olives, roasted herbs, scorched earth and lots of cured meat characteristics all give way to full-bodied, rich, concentrated, yet still elegant and textured Terrasses du Larzac. This should continue to drink beautifully for at least another 4-5 years (and probably longer, yet there’s no need to wait).
Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2008 – 2020
2006 Las Flors de la Pèira
96 RP
Compared to the 2005, the 2006 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira is more elegant and feminine, with its deep ruby (and still vibrant) color giving way to beautiful notes of ripe black cherries, Provencal garrigue, sweet spice and hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, pure, silky and elegant, with sweet, integrated tannin, it too is drinking beautifully and will keep for another 4-5 years. I actually prefer this over the top cuvee.
Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2009 – 2020
2007 Las Flors de la Pèira
97 RP
Wow, hello beautiful! The sensational 2007 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira (40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre) tastes like a top flight Chateauneuf du Pape with its ripe black raspberry, black cherry, licorice, baking spice and roasted herb-laced bouquet. Possessing full-bodied richness, a stacked mid-palate and a luxurious texture that carries sweet tannin, no hard edges and a great finish, this beauty is firing on all cylinders today, but will continue drinking beautifully through 2025. Drink Date 2010 – 2025 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2008 Las Flors de la Pèira
91 RP
More Grenache-dominated, with smaller parts Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2008 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira is inky colored and has tons of black currant, dark chocolate, resinous herbs, and scorched earth aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, focused and nicely concentrated, it has solid concentration, yet lacks the overall charm and texture found in the prior vintages. Nevertheless, it’s certainly a beautiful wine that will keep for another 5-7 years.
Drink Date 2011 – 2023 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2009 Las Flors de la Pèira
96 RP
Another tour de force is the 2009 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira, which is 33% each Syrah and Grenache, with the rest primarily Mourvedre. Similar in style to the sexy and voluptuous 2007, yet possibly with a touch more purity (but maybe less overall density), it offers a sensational bouquet of sweet black currants, caramelized meats, licorice, black raspberries and chocolate, with an additional floral, sappy character emerging with time in the glass. Full-bodied, concentrated, yet sexy, lively and still fresh, it has terrific purity of fruit, nicely integrated acidity and a great finish. Drink this fab Terrasses du Larzac anytime over the coming decade (although it’s brilliant today).
Drink Date 2012 – 2026 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2010 Las Flors de la Pèira
93 RP
The 2010 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira (55% Grenache, 30% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre) is deep ruby/ purple-colored and offers lots of black cherries and assorted darker fruits to go with lots of funky herbs, damp river rock, bay leaf, and cured meat-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully concentrated, elegant and silky, with fine tannin, good acidity and plenty of length, it should hit prime time in another handful of years and drink nicely through 2026.
Drink Date 2016 – 2026 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2011 Las Flors de la Pèira
92 RP
A charming, forward, silky effort, the 2011 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira offers tons of kirsch, toasted spice, garrigue and licorice notes in a medium to full-bodied, silky, beautifully elegant, seamless style. It’s drinking nicely today, and there’s no need to delay gratification. Drink Date 2014 – 2021 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2012 Las Flors de la Pèira
89 RP
Similar in style to the 2011, the medium-ruby colored 2012 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira offers lightweight notes of kirsch, garrigue, underbrush, and hints of meatiness in a surprisingly forward, moderately concentrated, straightforward style. While it’s certainly a solid wine, it’s a far cry from the more concentrated, textured and layered earlier vintages. Drink Date 2015-2022 Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2013 Las Flors de la Pèira
91 RP
A pretty, elegant version of this cuvee, which is the hallmark of the vintage, the 2013 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira offers a darker slant to its fruit profile and has lots of blackberry, cracked pepper, violets, saddle leather and distinct minerality. This medium-bodied, pure, polished beauty has already integrated tannin, notable purity of fruit and a great finish. It’s a beautiful effort in a difficult vintage. Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate Drink Date 2015 – 2023
2014 Las Flors de la Pèira
(89 – 92) RP
Similar in style to a slightly more concentrated 2012, the beautiful 2014 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira offers lots of sweet black cherries, Provencal garrigue, saddle leather and crushed flower-like characteristics in a medium-bodied, supple, polished and elegant style. Drink this total charmer on release and over the following 7-8 years. Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
2015 Las Flors de la Pèira
(94 – 96)+
Not yet bottled, the 2015 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira has put on considerable weight and richness since I tasted it last year. Checking in as a blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, aged primarily in older barrels, it boasts terrific notes of black raspberries, cassis, graphite and pepper. Full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent, yet always pure and impeccably balanced, it’s going to be just about impossible to resist on release. Issue Date 28th Apr 2017 Source 230, The Wine Advocate
2016 Las Flors de la Pèira
(93-96)
I was able to taste the individual components of the 2016 Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de la Peira, and this more Grenache-dominated cuvee always impresses for its upfront, sexy fruit and texture. The 2016 offers lots of both red and black fruits, spice and pepper, with medium to full-bodied richness, impressively sweet tannin and a finesse-oriented style. Issue Date 28th Apr 2017 Source 230, The Wine Advocate