Abbotts & Delaunay Corbières Réserve 2010‏

This Abbotts & Delaunay Corbières Réserve 2010 is made from the classic trio of Languedoc grapes - Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Three grape varieties  - three different locations - three ageing regimes (new oak, old oak and stainless steel).

Garnet in the glass, at just two years old, it already shows some paleness around the rim.

Straight from the bottle, there is a perfumey nose of ripe dark fruits, smokiness, liquorice, spice and a touch of undergrowth.

The palate is soft and supple with ripe, cooked cassis, black cherry and elderberry fruit and some typical Syrah inkiness. The finish is dry and grippy.

With extended aeration, however, the texture becomes more settled and harmonious, more inky-custardy, the aromas more secondary and complex with funky vegetal decay, black cherry fruit, woodsmoke-tarriness, dark berry fruit and pencil shavings.

After being initially a little underwhelmed, I find myself enjoying this much more once it's had sufficient airing. At its best when the Syrah characteristics dominate, I can't help wondering if it would not have been better as a varietal wine.

As it is, I would give this a couple more years in bottle - and/ or a bit of time in the decanter.

With its high acidity and a firm grip on the finish, it's definitely a food wine - despite the ripeness - so match with salami and bread with olive oil, or plain roast game.

The 2007 is available in the UK for £11.50 at Swig; provided for review.

It's also reviewed by Simon Woods, here: http://www.simonwoods.com/wine-tasting/wine-tasting-video-six-languedoc-reds/

Links

Abbotts & Delaunay - http://www.abbottsetdelaunay.com/
Swig - http://swig.co.uk/