Montirius "Le Clos" 2002, A.C. Vacqueyras. **HERITAGE WINE**

color: dark red with some browning in the rim.
Nose: expressive, mature, clean, intense, warm with many peppery, spicy and balsamic nuances, minerals, tertiary fruit, some alcohol, some freshness, elegance, refinement and also depth and complexity. Very classical nose with good terroir.
Taste: quite powerful, intense, full bodied, with piquant tannins, fresh acidity, some sweetness and many impressions of spice, pepper, tobacco, earth, minerals, sandalwood, cedar, some tertiary fruit, good depth, some complexity, good balance, nice concentration, classical style.
Finish: powerful, quite long with many tannins, good acidity, many spicy, mineral and balsamic nuances, fruit, good balance, classical style.

* Bio-dynamically produced wine: very mature and classical style with good concentration, strong tannins, firm acidity and many complex nuances of spices, earth and fruit, good depth and nice complexity, has elegance and very good balance. A great achievement in a difficult and underrated vintage. Excellent expression of this terroir.

Many would hesitate drinking or even tasting a 2002 wine from the southern Rhône. Too often these wines are diluted and unripe in style, but there are many exceptions. This wine has because of its low yield, old vines and good terroir sufficient ripeness and concentration. It is less dense and warm in style compared to wines from regular vintages, but this gives this wine its surprising elegance and purity of style. I also recall the lovely, deliciously fruity red Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2002 of Roger Perrin with a similar extra touch of elegance and drink ability. In "lighter" vintages there are many bargains to be found, this Montirius certainly is one exciting example.

- second label (same wine): Domaine Saint-Henry

- lotnr.: L ?

- tasted: 05-12-’06

- estimated retail price ca. 8,50 euro

- average production: not indicated

- Montirius, Vignoble Bio-Dynamique, Christine & Eric Saurel, Le Devès - 84260 Sarrians, Vaucluse, France tel.: + 33-490 65 38 28 / fax.: + 33-490 65 48 72 / e-mail: montirius@wanadoo.fr, web site: www.montirius.com