“La Touge” Minervois Cru La Livinière 2011
La Touge 2011 is a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache grown on hard and soft limestone and alluvial soils. vinification happens in a mix of concrete and conical oak foudre and it is aged for 12 months in 30% new oak and the rest in two and three years barrels. Like all our wines, it is bottled unfined and unfiltered and is thus suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The nose is ripe black fruits (blackcurrants, elderberries) notes alongside more spicy characteristics (pepper, herbs). The palate is very attractive with firm yet silky tannins. Aromatic, spicy with a fabulously generous weight.
The Vintage
Rain was plentiful at the start of the year with more than 200mm in December and a further 70mm in January. The humid soils took a while to warm and spring growth started a little later than in previous years.
Harvest began on the 8th September with the Syrah the first to be ready.
Patience was the name of the game for both the fermentation and maceration and we had to take care not to rack the wines too early. In the end we had some lovely black-fruited carignan with ripe, concentrated tannins, superb grenache with generosity and texture and some bright, aromatic syrah.
The Soils
Dark brown and red coloured soils.
The grapes for this wine come from vineyards planted on hard and soft limestone and alluvial soils. The texture is balanced and is light at the top, becoming increasingly heavy the deeper you go. The vertical clay migration reduces the carbon levels.
The Varieties
85% syrah, 15% grenache.
The Wine
Vinification : Vinified in oak and cement. Extraction from punching of the cap and light pumping over during a four week maceration.
Ageing : 30% in new oak barrel and 70% in old oak for 12 months.
Tasting Note :
Appearance : Very deep and even red and garnet appearance with hints of deep purple.
Nose : Open and expressive with great complexity. There are ripe black fruits (blackcurrants, elderberries) alongside more spicy characteristics (pepper, herbs)
Palate : Very attractive in the mouth with firm yet silky tannins. Aromatic, spicy with a fabulously generous weight. The finish is long and delicate.
AT : 3.34g/l
PH : 3.65
SR : 1.6g/l
Wine and Spirits magazine, june 2015
100 GREAT BUYS. THE YEAR’S BEST BRANDS FOR VALUE.
2015 BEST LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON WINES
90 PTS CHATEAU MARIS LA TOUGE 2011
BEST BUY
Mainly Syrah with 15% Grenache, fermented in a combination of oak foudres and cement, this is a firm and dark, a little while in the sweet tart punch of its blackberry flavors. The tannins give it a gravely grip, suited to a roast leg of lamb
The Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, May 2014
91 Pts 'La Touge' 2011
The single vineyard 2011 Minervois La Touge is a smoking effort that gives up perfumed kirsch, toasted spice and licorice aromas and flavors in a medium to full-bodied, voluptuous and textured package. It has a great mid-palate, loads of fruit and a beautifully balanced, layered feel. It will have 8-10 years of ultimate longevity.
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate, June 2011
2009 Château Maris Syrah La Touge (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois-La Livinière)
The 2009 Château Maris Syrah Minervois-La Livinière La Touge is a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache, all from limestone and alluvial soils, that was aged for 12 months in 30% new oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered (like all of their wines). It displays excellent Syrah character with spicy dark fruits, loads of meaty qualities, ground pepper, wild herbs, and hints of olive to go with a medium+ bodied, rich palate feel. This has solid underlying acidity, as well as quality tannin on the finish, all suggesting it will evolve gracefully for 3-5 years.
89 pts
David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate, June 2011:
2009:
89 Pts
Mingling intensely resinous evocations of scrubby garrigue with confitured black fruits, the Maris 2009 Syrah La Touge - a cuvee from less-favored Syrah sites and featuring 12-15% Grenache - displays ample body; a rich texture; and a generous as well as invigoratingly pungent finish, though not the infectious juiciness and saliva-inducing savor of its 2008 counterpart. I expect this will be best enjoyed over the next couple of years.
2008:
90 Pts
Rich ripe black fruit and roasted red meat juiciness inform a seamless, polished palate in Maris's 2008 Syrah La Touge, with peat-like smokiness, mouthwatering salinity, and the savor of pan drippings rendering its long finish both invigorating and compelling of the next sip. This impressive effort and terrific value should drink well for at least 3-4 years.
2006:
90 Pts
High-toned mint and herbal essences and buddleia floral perfume mingle with scents of ripe black currant in the nose of the Maris 2006 Syrah La Touge, leading to a lush, sweetly-ripe palate, with notes of wet stone and pencil lead offering interest in the finish. This has a wonderfully silken feel, and despite its suggestion of sweetness and its (by estate standards low) 14.5% alcohol, possesses an almost “cool” fresh fruit character, with an invigoratingly tart edge.
Score: 90. —David Schildknecht, June 2009.