2017 Famille Lafage “Miraflors” $13
Who: Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage
What: 30% Grenache Gris, 70% Mourvedre
Where: Côtes du Roussillon, France
Tastes Like: Aromas of light, wild strawberry and watermelon rind. Mineral and herbaceous, balanced by a juicy fruit center.
Pairs With: Charcuterie, seafood, grilled chicken, pizza, salad... or by itself!
The Where:
Languedoc Roussillon is a wine producing region in the south of France, abutting the border with Spain. The climate is warm and influenced by the Mediterranean, though some vineyards do see colder temperatures as you move further into the Pyrenees. Blends are the way of the region, with Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Carignan being the predominant plantings.
The Who:
Jean-Marc Lafage works at his estate in the Roussillon, and across the border in Spain where he consults on several projects. Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage farm 160 hectares of vines located just south of the capital of French Catalonia, Perpignan. Some of their vineyards are situated a few kilometers from the Mediterranean while others can be found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This range of sites allow them to make both refreshing whites as well as concentrated reds and, this being the Roussillon, some fortified wines as well. Benefiting from a warm, dry climate, the estate is farmed organically. They grow primarily Grenache (Blanc, Gris & Noir), Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne and Chardonnay with a significant proportion of the vines well over 50 years old. The soil, as you near the coast is weathered, alluvial gravel ( fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel.) while in the higher elevation sites it is predominantly schist (plate-like rock formed when shale, clay, or siltstone is subjected to pressure deep within the earth. The soil retains heat well and warms up relatively quickly). They harvest by hand and the winemaking is surprisingly uncomplicated with stainless steel for the fresher whites but mostly concrete tanks for the rest with a small amount of French oak demi-muids.
The Wine:
Named after an old estate located in the heart of Domaine Lafage, Mas Miraflors, the Miraflors Rosé is sourced from old vines of Grenache Gris, nearing 80 years old, planted near the Mediterranean. Added to this is some Mourvedre that Jean-Marc planted here about 15 years ago. This a direct press rosé with the color coming from the skins of the pink Grenache Gris berries, and naturally, from the much darker Mourvedre. It is aged on the lees in stainless steel tanks for 4 months before bottling.
