92+pts Wine Advocate
A blend of 65% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 5% Mourvdre from black-schist soils, the 2020 Maury Sec Chteau Saint-Roch Kerbuccio is a terrific effort, marked by scents of cracked pepper and menthol, crushed stone, black cherries, black olives and black licorice. And yes, it’s dark-hued as well. Medium to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and intense but silky in feel, with a long, elegant finish. It’s a terrific value in a hearty, but ready-to-drink red. Drinking Window: 2023 – 2030

93pts Stu Piggot:
“Chocolate, walnuts, ripe plums, blueberries, sweet tobacco, cassis and mint on the nose. Some ash. Its full-bodied with muscular, broad and integrated tannins. Rich and chocolaty. Very polished. 65% grenache (80 years old) and 35% syrah (40 years old) from two blocks on black slate soil. Sustainable. Drink or hold.” – 93/100

Note from Winery: In 1998, recognizing the potential of the Lirac terroirs, the Brunel family acquired Chteau Saint-Roch located in Roquemaure, in the Gard department.

Classified as a Ctes du Rhne vintage since 1947, the Lirac appellation produces fine, fruity reds with full-bodied aromas of red and black fruits. Our white wines are both dry and fruity with floral aromas: they are fresh and mineral. The ross, on the other hand, are fresh and delicious, pairing perfectly with fish and exotic cuisine. Our Chteau Saint-Roch wines benefit fully from their location near the Rhne, almost “on the waterfront.”

Robert Parker said: “Don’t underestimate the potential of the Brunel family’s Chteau Saint-Roch in Lirac, where you can find excellent value for money wines.”

Made from the best, most concentrated grapes at Cht St Roch, the first selections are made as the bunches are cut, and second sorting of grapes at the cellar door. The fermentation is kept between 20-23C to maximize the fruit expression and the wine is macerated for 4 weeks with frequent pumpover and punch-down. 60% of the wine is matured in 500L oak barrels for 14 months, the rest in concrete tanks. Kerbuccio is the Latin name for the 11th century hilltop Queribus Castle that overlooks the vineyards.

The Saint-Roch vineyard is in the heart of Roussillon, south of France, close to the Spanish border. Halfway between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. High Environmental Value Level 3 vineyard. The Grenache are goblet – free-standing bush vines and the Syrah is trained on trellis wires. Sustainable, low-impact farming, with hand-harvesting for the Grenache. Stony, black schist soil, with loam, in the Agly Valley. Vine age: 80 years.

65% Grenache, 35% Syrah