Mas De Libian Côtes du Rhône Rouge La Calade 2017

La Calade is Mas de Libian's Mourvèdre cuvée, grown on rolled river stones on the Ardèche side of the southern Rhône.

Mas de Libian lies at Saint-Marcel-d'Ardèche, across the river and a little north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and has been in the same family since 1670; Hélène Thibon and her sisters run some 25 hectares there. Farming is organic and biodynamic with Demeter certification, and the soils are ploughed by horse. La Calade borrows the local word for a stone-paved path and comes from parcels of galets roulés over red clay, the warmest and stoniest ground the estate holds, which suits Mourvèdre's slow ripening. The blend is Mourvèdre-led at around ninety per cent, filled out with Grenache. Ageing is split four ways between Stockinger demi-muids, porcelain jars, stoneware Clayver eggs and stainless steel, so no single vessel leaves a mark and there is no obvious oak over the fruit.

Drinking well now and capable of another five years or more in a cool cellar. Serve at 16-18°C with slow-roasted lamb shoulder, a beef daube or a hard sheep's-milk cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.