If you like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are looking for great value, look no further than Lirac! They are most certainly wines worth seeking out!

Disclosure: The wines in this post were provided as a samples. No other payments were involved and all opinions expressed are my own.

About Lirac

It’s located just across the  Rhône river from the fabled Châteauneuf-du-Pape (“CdP”).   And just like CdP, it’s one of 17 crus in the Rhône Valley that make top-quality wine.  It’s been classified as an AOP (or AOC) since 1947.  It also features the same galet stones on top of red clay that part and parcel of CdP’s terroir, and its close proximity to the Rhône subject it to the famous Mistral winds that howl down the river regularly.   Like CdP, grapes have been cultivated in Lirac since ancient times.  The grape varieties are essentially the same.

So, how is it that CdP is well-known world-wide and Lirac …well is not?

Perhaps it’s their size ( it’s total production makes up only 0.5% of Rhone Valley production), their humility (the tagline on their website is “A sober, inconspicuous AOC“), or perhaps it’s because the village of Lirac is believed to be the origin of the phylloxera pest in France.  And CdP does have that the whole summer residence of the papacy thing working in its favor.  Who really knows?

In a cruel twist of irony, Lirac is the birthplace of the Côtes du Rhône.  According to the Lirac website, “In the 16^th century sales of Lirac started increasing dramatically.  The wines were already largely appreciated around the world.  In order to protect against the misuse of its name, the magistrates of Roquemaure, an important river port at the time, began to authenticate the wine by branding the barrels with the letters “C.D.R”, standing for “Côte du Rhone”.  Therefore, Lirac is where the Cotes du Rhone appellation originated before gradually being extended to other “Côtes du Rhone” wines.

Today, with investments in the region on the rise (including investments by Châteauneuf-du-Pape producers) and technological upgrades in local winemaking, Lirac is a region to keep an eye on!

Lirac at a glance:

Area under vine: 715ha
Climate: Mediterranean, boasting exceptional exposure to the sun, with 2700 hours per year. The average annual temperature is around 57° Fahrenheit.
Reds: Predominately Grenache noir (minimum 40%), Syrah and Mourvèdre (minimum of 25% together), Cinsault, and Carignan (maximum 10%).
Whites and Rosé:  Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Bourboulenc. No variety may be used in a proportion greater than 60%.  For rosé, the same varieties are used as for the red, and up to 20% of the allowed varieties for white wine may be used.
Communes: The wines of Lirac come from the best parcels  in 4 communes (districts): Lirac, Roquemaure, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres and Saint-Geniès-de-Comolas.
Soils: There are three types of soil in the Lirac, each  of  which  imparts  its  own  qualities  on  the  grape  growing: Limestone, Galette River Pebbles on top of red clay, and sand
Annual production: 2.5 million bottles; Lirac is rare among the 17  Rhône  crus because it offers red  (80%), white  (10%)  and  rosé  wines  (10%)  within  its  AOC

A Taste of Lirac

I received four sample wines, three reds, and one white.  You’ll find my tasting notes and pairing recommendations below:

2016 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône Blanc Comtesse Madeleine – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Color – Pale lemon
Aromas – Enticing apricot, ripe white peach, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and a hint of brioche
Body – Full bodied,round and delicious with a supple mouthfeel, ample fruit and very good acidity
Taste – Apricot confit, ripe white peach, spice, honey, and candied orange peel
Finish – Medium

Blend of 50% Marsanne, 20% Grenache blanc, 15% Clairette, 15% Picpoul|13% abv |SRP-$30 (89 pts.)

Pair with: Bouillabaisse, grilled tuna or lobster with saffron. Wonderful as a sipper in its own right too! (Note: before I received this wine as a sample I ordered a bottle from my favorite wine shop – glad I did, it was their last bottle!)

2017 Antoine Ogier Lirac Lou Camine – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Color – Opaque ruby
Aromas – Kirsch, black cherry, crushed ripe strawberries, baking spice and a hint of lavender
Body – Medium-bodied, fruit forward and delicious with good acidity and a surprisingly supple texture
Taste – Fresh black cherry, Kirsch, baking spice and subtle strawberry hard candy
Finish – Medium, spicy and clean

This one is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and nice QPR at $15!  Blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre|14% abv|SRP – $15 (87 pts.)

Pair with: Lamb lollipops, mole poblano, roast rack of lamb, venison or beef stew

2015 Alain Jaume & Fils Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Color – Garnet
Aromas – Blackberry, black cherry, and black pepper with hint of spice and lavender
Body – Medium-bodied and refined with mouth-watering acidity and firm youthful tannins
Taste – Blackberry, black cherry, graphite, red currant and spice
Finish – Medium plus

Blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre Cinsault| 15% abv |SRP – $25 (90 pts.)

Pair with:  Grilled game or vegetables, and hearty stews (cassoulet comes immediately to mind).

2013 Castel Oualou Lirac Reserve – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Color – Dark crimson with purple hue
Aromas – Lifted crushed red fruit, vanilla, and an appealing combination of oak and baking spice
Body – Medium-bodied with low-medium acidity and a supple texture
Taste – Spicy cherry, red currant, and vanilla with an appealing bit of earthiness.
Finish – Medium

Blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre| 14% abv| SRP – $20 (87 pts.)

Pair with: Roast meats, ratatouille, and other richly flavored Mediterranean dishes

Takeaways

The wines I tried share a fruity , fresh and balanced character without being too candied or overly fruit forward, and all offered wonderful value.  If you like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but are looking for great value, look no further than Lirac! They are most certainly wines worth seeking out!

Here’s a list of great Lirac wine suggestions from my fellow Winophiles:

• Michelle from Rockin Red Blog shares Lirac AOC Produces Your New Favorite Wine
• Payal at Keep the Peas shares “Lirac AOC: Hidden in Plain Sight”
• David at Cooking Chat shares “Mushroom Mac and Cheese Casserole with Wine from Lirac
• Gwen from Wine Predator shares “Discover Lirac’s Southern Rhone Palate with the #Winophiles“
• Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm shares “Savory Stew paired with Lirac is Luscious“
• Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares “Poulet au Citron et Lavande + La Lôyane 2016“
• Jane from Always Ravenous shares “Mediterranean Flavors of Bouillabaisse Paired with Lirac Blanc“
• Jill from L’Occasion shares “Lirac: Five Star Wine And Travel“
• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles shares “Lirac – Castles, Keeps, Wolves & Divas in the Southern Rhône“
• Kat from Bacchus Travel and Tours shares “Lirac: The Rhone’s Hidden Gem“
• Susannah from Avvinare shares “Lirac Wines- Discovering the Southernmost AOC of the Rhone“
• Liz from What’s in That Bottle shares “Lirac: the Rhône Valley’s Secret Right Bank Ringer“
• Rupal from Syrah Queen shares “Discover Lirac – Rhône’s Best Kept Secret“
• Nicole from Somms Table shares “Cooking to the Wine: Clos de Trias Ventoux with Bacon Teriyaki Burger“
• Jeff at Food Wine Click! shares “Lirac: Wine from the Wrong Side of the Tracks“

Please join our chat on Twitter – whether you posted or not.  We love visitors and happily chat and answer questions. Simply tune in to the #winophiles hashtag on Twitter this Saturday, Oct. 20 at 10am CDT. Our bloggers will also be tagging (Twitter) @rhonewines and (IG) @rhonevalleyvineyards, and using the following hashtags: #rhonevalleyvineyards #lirac #liracwines

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