Leading The Pack In Lirac

By JN Wine 21/09/2015 - 23:28

Joncier

Marine Roussel is a dynamic and vivacious woman bringing a great deal of energy and passion to her craft. She started working with her father in 1984 and has been bringing her energy and zest to this small domain ever since. She attained organic certification in 2000 and biodynamic in 2011. Domaine du Joncier lies in the village of Lirac just across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is acknowledged to be one of the better areas in Côtes du Rhône Villages. It’s also just next door to Tavel which is famed for rosé. Marine’s efforts have been recognized by leading UK wine writer Jancis Robinson:

LIRAC – large and growing (more than 700 ha/1,700 acres in the mid 2000s) appellation on the right bank of the southern Rhône producing mainly full-bodied reds and rosés, and a small amount of sometimes heavy white wine. The rosés can offer good-value alternatives to nearby Tavel made in very similar conditions and from the same sort of grape varieties, while the reds generally resemble a particularly soft, earlier maturing Côte du Rhône-Villages, although there are one or two notably more ambitious exceptions such as Domaines du Joncier and de la Mordorée and some of the better producers in Châteauneuf-du-Pape across the river who also make a Lirac. (Oxford Companion to Wine)

The challenge in Lirac is to temper the natural ripeness of the fruit that naturally occurs in this sun drenched region. The mistral plays an important role cooling the grapes and keeping any pests at bay and Marine works hard to keep the concentration in her wines and balance that with purity, minerality and freshness. The reds are blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, which is typical of the region and as you move up through the quality levels the wines become more intense, full-bodied and have more longevity.

Domaine du Joncier Lirac Rosé 2013