Château Saint-Roch, Lirac Cuvée Confidentielle Rouge 2023
Château Saint-Roch, Lirac Cuvée Confidentielle Rouge 2023 is a dry, full-bodied red from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre (Southern Rhône, France), in the rich, smooth reds style. Tannins are moderate and acidity gentle; oak influence is little. Good with lamb, roast vegetables, beef stew, barbecue.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairanne Peyre Blanche, Famille Perrin 2023 Perrin Family · Rhône | £23.00 | |||
| Rasteau, Domaine la Soumade, Frédéric Roméro 2024 Domaine La Soumade - F Romero · Rhône | £23.00 | |||
| Chateau Puech-Haut Prestige Rouge 2021 Chateau Puech-Haut · Languedoc-Roussillon | £22.96 | |||
| Chateau de la Gardine, Rasteau 2021 Château De La Gardine · Rhône | £22.96 |
Lirac sits just across the Rhône from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has long been the region's best-kept secret; similar soils, similar grapes, a fraction of the price. Château Saint Roch's Cuvée Confidentielle is a quietly confident expression of that: a GSM blend with real southern swagger, built around ripe Grenache giving the warmth and generosity, with Syrah and Mourvèdre adding backbone and a streak of peppery, herbal energy. The 2023 vintage brought plenty of sun-driven ripeness, but Saint Roch has kept things focused rather than flabby. The garrigue character is vivid and distinctly southern Rhône, the tannins are ripe rather than grippy, and the finish has a warmth that invites a second glass before you've quite finished the first.