D66, Grenache, Vins de Pays des Côtes Catalanes, 2009

There are 26 regions and 101 departments in France, which are loosely comparable to states and counties, respectively, in the United States. Within the region of Languedoc-Roussillon is Department 66: Pyrénées-Orientales. This corner of France is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Pyrenees, and Barcelona beyond them, to the South, and rugged Cathar country to the North. The weather is almost always lovely and the soil is schisty and lacking in organic nutrients: a flawless setting for old vine Grenache, Syrah and Carignan.
Our local neighbor Dave Phinney purchased 235 acres near the small town of Maury in Department 66. This is the first vintage of D66, and fans of wines like Spain’s Alto Moncayo are about to fall solidly in love with this toasty, lush red wine. I suggest we all take a field trip to visit the new winery. Any takers? {80% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 8% Carignan}