Domaine Cailhol Gautran Villa Lucia Minervois 2019

Platinum at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, 97 points: one of 163 wines to take the medal from 18,244 entered.

Domaine Cailhol Gautran is a fifth-generation family estate in the Minervois, farmed organically on schist in the foothills of the Montagne Noire. Olivia and Nicolas Gautran lead the blend with Syrah, Grenache behind it, macerated up to five weeks for depth and frame.

Deep purple in the glass. Blackberry, garrigue herbs, cracked black pepper, espresso, violets. Ripe, chalky tannins and a long finish. The 2019 is in a beautiful place now and will hold for years yet.