East India Club Red Château de Ciffre Rouge Classique Saint-Chinian AC Vignobles Nicholas & Miren de Lorgeri
The club red is a blend known as rouge classique within the wine rage of Château de Ciffre. De Ciffre is actually not a château but a windmill. It was acquired by the Lorgerils in 2007 then converted into a luxury guest house and modern winery complex. Overlooking 35 hectares of mature vineyards, the estate is the only one in the region to sit astride the border line between the two appellations of Saint-Chinian and Faugères. The picturesque site, 25km north of Béziers, in the Hérault department of Languedoc, is an oasis of vines amid an arid garrigue landscape. Olive trees, umbrella pines and patches of wild herbs shelter the noisy cicadas from the summer heat. The vines are grown at altitude along slopes of schist and limestone on the flanks of the “Montagne Noire” hence boosted acidity levels, moderate alcohol and complex mineral notes, all contributing balancing freshness to a wine from thoroughly sun-ripened grapes. Round tannins give a silky feel to this blend, which is composed of 40% syrah, 30% carignan, 20% old vine grenache and 10% mourvèdre. Syrah provides natural spice to the blend’s juicy raspberry, redcurrant and black cherry fruit character. The wine is bottled early with no maturation in wood to guarantee optimum freshness. Since it is listed after a year in the bottle, one can enjoy this terroir-driven wine when it is at its most expressive, bursting with fruit. Make the most of it by matching it with lamb or game dishes, notably venison.