Chateau Mourgues du Gres - Terre d'Argence 2018

This wine is predominantly (70%) Syrah based from vines that are over 45 years old, complemented by old-vine Grenache (15%) and 15% Mourvedre. The vineyard has a perfectly full southern exposure, with a subsoil of marl and calcareous limestone and a substantial surface layer of galet stones provides exceptional ripening conditions for these vines year in and year out. After a gentle maceration for 3-5 weeks, the wine is aged in concrete vats (65%), wooden vats (35%), and, for the fruit from the most-structured plots, barrel (5%). No yeasts or sulfur are used during vinification or aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

(Terres d’Argence- Château Mourgues de Grès) The Terres d’Argence bottling from Château Mourgues de Grès is their old vine cuvée, with all of the vineyards that go into this blend at least forty-five years of age. The blend in 2018 is seventy percent syrah and fifteen percent each of grenache and mourvèdre. The vineyards are planted on marl and limestone soils, with a surface strata of galets roules just like in Châteauneuf du Pape. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and raised in a combination of cement, foudres and five percent small barrels. The 2018 version is again ripe in this warm summer, tipping the scales at 14.5 percent alcohol and offering up a fine bouquet of cassis, woodsmoke, hung game, stony soil tones, lovely spice tones and just a whisper of oak from the small barrels. On the palate the wine is deep, focused and full-bodied, with a superb core of fruit, excellent mineral undertow, ripe tannins and fine balance on the long and complex finish. The old vines here really give the wine fine mid-palate stuffing. This is most impressive and also a touch cooler in the mouth than the 2020 Galets Rouges bottling. (Drink between 2028-2045) By John Gilman - Jul/Aug 2022, Issue #100, Wines From the South of France Late Summer 2022 - 90 points