Guillaume Gonnet Le Virtuose Lirac 2018

3rd generation winemaker Guillaume Gonnet hails from the Côtes-du-Rhône area, in the south of France, farming with organic methods and minimal intervention, making pure, soil-rich wines with little to no oak, focusing upon the red fruit and flower-driven Grenache grape. His labels depict the local robins which fly around the vineyards and embody all that drives these wines - dreams, liberty and terroir. 

His Lirac here is made of handpicked grapes, 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah, from 40 year old vines, vinified in concrete tanks using natural yeasts and aged for a total of 12 months in concrete vats. The soils here are round pebbles on the surface with red clay and sandy underneath.  The exposition is a South-facing plateau. 

This wine has intense red and black fruits, lots of spices and garrigues (herbs from Provence), soft, elegant tannins, and delicious complexities of licorice, truffle and dark chocolate. Pair with fine French cheeses, such Fromage d'Affinois, Le Pico Goat, Comte Gruyere or P'tit Basque, or with meat roasts, stews, bean casseroles, bbq ribs and chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages on the grill.