Domaine de Tholomies Minervois La Liviniere 2013

Within the Minervois region of the Languedoc, ‘La Liviniere’ is sub-region that produces some of the best wines, so if you’re going to dabble in a bottle or two of Minervois I’d pay the extra to try some from ‘La Liviniere’ as it’s a real step up in quality. In the glass this has a deep purple/ruby colour and an intense Morello cherry, blackcurrant, quince and white chocolate aroma. Powerful dark black fruits on the palate (as above), with liquorish, black pepper spice, olive tapenade, cedar, vanilla and tobacco leaf.  Huge length and intensity with clean acidity and grippy pastel tannins providing plenty of structure that will see this wine improve for many years to come. There is a big hit of alcohol though and it comes across as hot… that said, with a wine as big as this I can’t help but find it reassuring somehow. Finishes long and increasingly savory characteristics begin to immerge, so I’d defiantly decant for at least 2hrs, double if you can! This is expensive but worth every penny, £23.95 a bottle from the Oxford Wine Company.