Deep ruby color; blackcurrant, plum, black cherry, blueberry, licorice, roast meat, dark chocolate, vanilla, white pepper, oak, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; significant puckering tannins, decanting strongly suggested; medium acidity. Full body, dense mouthfeel. Blend of 70% syrah, 30% mourvèdre sourced from the Corbières appellation in the Languedoc region. Rigorous vine management with cordon pruning, shoot thinning, leaf removal, cluster thinning, very low yields. Automatic sorting after harvest, followed by manual grape-by-grape selection. Cold soak maceration for six days. Alcohol fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Extended maceration for up to four weeks with daily punchdowns and pump overs (remontage). Aged one year in 100% new French oak barrels with selected fine-grain staves. Only 5,800 bottles produced. 15.5% ABV
Les Vignobles Foncalieu is a union of 801 winegrowers in the heart of the Languedoc region of southeastern France. La Lumière Corbières is part of the cooperative. It is part of the Atelier Prestige collection, described as Foncalieu’s “most exceptional wines” range. This particular wine is crafted by three winemakers—Gilles Ferrand, Fabrice Oliver, and Marceau Lacombe—who collaborated to create this premium offering.
The cooperative was founded in 1967. It includes Celliers du Nouveau Monde winery in Puichéric, the Vignerons de la Cité de Carcassonne, the Vignerons du Pays d’Ensérune near Béziers and the La Redorte & Castelnau d’Aude winery. The website notes: “From the balconies of the Aude to the limestone soils of the Corbières and the red soils of Saint-Chinian, we cultivate 5,172 hectares [12,780 acres] of vines in 4 AOPs (Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Corbières, Languedoc) and 4 IGPs (Pays d’Oc, Vallée du Paradis, Coteaux d’Enserune, Cité de Carcassonne).” It is one of the 50 most recognized wine brands worldwide.
Les Vignobles Foncalieu La Lumière Corbières 2018 is powerful, complex with layers of dark, assertive fruits, led by syrah. This is Foncalieu’s premier effort—from their Atelier Prestige collection. If you enjoy forceful, robust red wines with tannic swagger and aggressive alcohol, this is made for your taste. Built for aging, at seven years, this is just moving into its prime drinking phase—and still needs decanting, which smooths out and integrates the diverse elements of this impressive wine. $30-35
Pairing—red meats, particularly lamb and wild game; leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary, lamb shanks; venison, wild boar. Barbecue and grilled meats, beef, pork, chicken; grilled T-bone steak; slow-cooked brisket; meat and sausage medleys; French bean and beef stew; rich stews and goulash; braised meats, slow-cooked beef short ribs. Ratatouille and other vegetable-based Mediterranean dishes. Cheese—comté is classic; cantal (cow’s milk cheese from Auvergne region), aged tomme de savoie; aged cheddar, manchego, aged gouda; blue cheese from southern France—bleu des causses.
Les Vignobles Foncalieu website
