Oh dear. Some good friends gave us this bottle recently. I was very keen as the estate is well regarded and the appellation of La Liviniere has a good reputation. But wine is a mysterious thing. Drinking this wine in mid August 2008 it is nearly three years after the grapes were picked. Maybe the weather was too hot last night, maybe the wine was just tight and awkward.Ernie Loosen from Dr Loosen wine estate always says 'Drink my Riesling Kabinett wines in year 1 or year 11, but be careful in between'. These words can also be relevant to fine red burgundy. Great and showy with maximum 'pink cherry' character when young but can 'go to sleep' in mid term before coming back with class and elegance after 7-8 years.
Anyway back to the wine tasted! It was just unexpectedly tight with evident new oak masking some quality dark intense fruit. We should have given it some air...or maybe left it for another couple of years. It was just a shame to try a wine at its awkward youthful stage. I would like to try more wines from this estate as I think there is quality lurking here, it was just unexpetced in this style when many of the wines of the area are far more open and evolved at this stage. 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Carignan. 40% new oak for 1 year.
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