Chateau de Combebelle St. Chinian Syrah-Grenache 2000 (Wine Blogging Wednesday #29 Jan. 2007)

It's alive, the soil and the wine!  What a fine find, divine and kind.

Situated in the "Catbird seat", nearly 1000 feet up from the sea, in the oft overlooked St. Chinian appellation in the center of the Languedoc in southern France above Beziers is the tiny 50-acre biodynamic vineyard known as Chateau Combebelle. The views are of the sea and mountains. Robert Eden is the proprietor and keeper of this Eden, and by all accounts he telegraphs the character of his wines with his own personality.

No doubt this monumental red wine bargain from Combebelle reflects the principles of modern biodynamic farming. To quote Eden, "We started out making wines in 1997. Our objective is to cultivate our vineyards with absolute respect for the environment so that our wines may express as naturally as possible their origin. We seek to preserve our local eco systems in as natural as state as possible, researching ways of allowing our vines to establish natural defences against their different predators. We feed our vines compost (from sheep and cow manure), made on each of our farms according to the Biodynamic principles, to ensure our soil is nurtured with live matter."

This is a worthy wine to consider for January 2007's "Wine Blogging Wednesday", and a unique and somewhat rare find for the wine bins in Nashville.

Produced by Eden's Comte Cathare Winery in La Livinière, Chateau de Combebelle St. Chinian Syrah-Grenache 2000 is a blend of 6/10 Syrah and 4/10 Grenache, aged a year in large vats.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep cranberry garnet, with an unfiltered haze, inky and opaque.  Aromas: Intense pungent dark berries and currants, roasted dark chocolate, plus hints of pepper, Worcestershire sauce and smoked meat. Almost full-bodied, the tannins are still alive and well albeit mature. Pepper-laced blackberry, spice and ripe olive flavors finish with strength and a twangy savory character.

Outstanding value ($18). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 14%

Food pairing: Sweet hot spicy barbecue, either Memphis pork ribs or Austin Hill Country beef brisket.  Or, spicy bacon and cheese meatloaf with bar-b-que sauce.

In keeping with "pay it forward", a portion of the proceeds of all Comte Cathare wines goes to the Rainforest Foundation.

Update/March 13, 2007: In December, 2005, Combebelle was purchased by Catherine Wallace and Patrick Keohane. This post incorrectly attributes current ownership to Robert Eden, who owned the property when this wine was made. A new post is available with all the details. Click here.

Comments

[Dr. Debs]

I had one of Ch. Maris's Minervois this year--didn't know it was biodynamic. Thanks for the review!

[Jack]

Sounds like a great find - and from a small importer who's not on my radar.

Although, I do have to say that a wine with a nose including "Worcestershire sauce" is not entirely appealing. :)