2010 Puech-Haut - Coteaux de Languedoc Prestige

Even better than the brilliant ’09, with more elegance and freshness, the 2010 Château Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry Cuvée Prestige is a custom cuvee made by Philippe Cambie and Eric Solomon. An absurd value and a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan that’s aged half in concrete and half in neutral barrel, it possesses a vivid, semi-opaque purple color to go with captivating aromas of raspberry liqueur, cassis, fresh flowers, sappy underbrush, and licorice-like qualities that simply soar from the glass. On the palate, this impeccably put together Languedoc has a pure, polished profile, with a sappy, resinous tactile sensation in its full-bodied texture, perfect balance, and a long, seamless finish. While no lightweight, it is in no way over the top and has real poise and elegance that is married to plenty of power and depth. While it has the balance and tannin structure to evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade, I see no reason to hold off.