Federal Wine & Spirits

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Wine Dinner- Department 66, Thursday, July 29th 2021, 6:30pm

Catalyst Restaurant - come on out, it's time! Reserve now! Read on...

July 29, 2021

 

 

 

Maury is in the center of the prime growing area in the hills of Roussillon (France’s department number 66); Long famous for its vin doux naturel, it has now added some outstanding reds. Steep hillsides, black schist, and red argile soils reveal striking black, gray, and orange shades. Closer to Barcelona than Paris, wines there have flair more Catalan than French.

         Dave Phinney, known for his Orin Swift wines and as the creator of The Prisoner, fell in love with its surrounding vineyards of old vine Grenache (known as the grape of Chateauneuf du Pape), Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre. He has been making heady, full-bodied wines there under the Department 66 label for over ten years. The estate range to as much as 70 years old. 

 

 

Fragile, an opulent rose of Grenache and Mourvedre

Façade an estate white from the heady and savory Gris clone of Grenache

D66  WA "inky colored, downright sexy, offers terrific notes of blueberries, blackberries, violets and chalky minerality. Big, concentrated and textured" 

Others  WA "Currants, black raspberries, spices and chocolate all emerge from this rich, supple, beautifully textured effort that has classic Maury flair."

Pharaon 2015  WA "the top wine of the estate, a mix of 60/40 Grenache and Syrah that boasts a saturated purple color as well as loads of currants, plums, chocolate, roasted herbs and licorice. Rich, full-bodied, unctuous and mouth-filling, with serious flavor authority and depth."

 

 

 

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           - Len Rothenberg

 

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