Chateau de la Negly La Porte du Ciel 2010 750ml

Showing the slightly cooler year, the 2010 Coteaux du Languedoc La Porte du Ciel is the most elegant and focused in the lineup, with fabulous purity, full-bodied richness and a long, seamless finish. Loaded with complex dark fruits, olive brine, smoked meats and hints of earth, it’s a rock star bottle of Syrah that shows what can be accomplished from this part of the world. Give it another handful of years in bottle and enjoy it over the following decade or more. Winemaker Didier Lacreu and consultant Claude Gros have fashioned some of the top efforts in this report. Located in the stunningly beautiful La Clape region, which lies between Narbonne and the Mediterranean Sea, the estate consists of a handful of vineyards, all of which lie within sight of the sea. While all of their wines lean towards the full-bodied, decadent end of the spectrum, they possess fabulous, singular bouquets as well as balanced, seamless and even elegant profiles on the palate. They won’t be for everyone, yet I’m a huge fan.