Terre des Dames "La Diva" 2016 Red Blend Languedoc

750ml bottle

14% abv

Proprietress Lidewij Van Wilgen, originally from Amsterdam, discovered this forgotten plot of vines 18 years ago and has revitalized, yet cherished, this property. The original 200 year-old stone walls surround very old vines of up to 100 years of age. Her “La Diva” is the estate’s flagship red, aged at the estate for three years. 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 15% Alicante make up the blend.

Sappy cassis liqueur hits right up front, followed by spiced gingerbread cookie, star anise, campfire, rosemary, licorice, and bacon notes. This wine is made for grilled meats or glazed ribs; the palate is savory, silky, and blue-fruited, with bacon fat, tart blackberry, bay leaf, and smoky minerals.

This is a classic example of how approachable and silky, yet long-lived, the 2016 vintage has turned out to be.

The vines here are all dry-farmed, organic, and very old. The growers believe that these established deep-rooted vines are more resilient to the ravages of a warming planet and maintain vigor and balance despite ever-rising temperatures and less rainfall. There is proof of this in the bottle – it's a very well balanced, utterly enjoyable Syrah blend from Ecocert-certified organic vineyards in the wild, rocky south of France.