wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Domaine du Murinais
In a business where I receive at least 50 emails a week from wineries in Europe trying to get me to import their wines, it was refreshing that Luc Tardy of Domaine du Murinais didn't try to sell me his wines at all. I had identified his winery as a possible supplier in the Crozes Hermitage area and at my initial tasting of his wines he really didn't say much at all. Aside from enjoying being able to focus on his wines instead of being distracted by sales pitches, such a tasting is what the exploration of wine should be - to let the wines speak for themselves.
And the wines definitely did speak for themselves as they were incredibly expressive of the terroir in his vineyards. I do feel fortunate with my overall focus on wineries who only use fruit from their own vineyards as I have continually found that there definitely is a difference in fruit expression between wineries who only use estate grown fruit and make smaller amounts of wine as compared with wineries who set larger production targets and who then have to purchase a lot of fruit from vineyards with lots of different soil types all over their region.
The Domaine has long been a family property and the year of 1768 is chiseled into the rock face next to the entrance of their underground cellar. Luc has been responsible for the Domaine since 1998 and his attention to detail is remarkable. All the vineyard work is done by hand and the farming is organic. All harvesting is also done by hand and juice flows by gravity into tanks in cellar instead of through pumps. In the cellar, fruit from each parcel is vinified separately for a precise expression of terroir. The end result is very expressive and distinctive wines.
The Wines
Domaine du Murinais Crozes Hermitage Blanc 2024 (OC, NF)
The blend in 2024 was 50% Marsanne and 50% Roussanne. Aromas include citrus blossoms, white flowers, narcissus, jasmine, white peach, pear, and honeydew melon. Flavors include honeydew melon, white peach, pear, and green apple. There is a medium to full body, good body and acidity, and a long and refreshing medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include sole, shrimp, crab, lobster, halibut, branzino, seabass, swordfish, clams, mussels, calamari, seafood pasta, risotto, and salads, creamy seafood bisques, paella, veal, pork, chicken, white meat dishes with creamy and rich sauces, vegetable casseroles, Asian and Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, Asian vegetable salads and appetizers, enchiladas, chile relleno, pork verde, tostadas, green salads, and mild, medium, and creamy cheeses.
Domaine du Murinais Crozes Hermitage “Les Amandiers” Rouge 2023 (OC, NF)
The Les Amandiers is from a vineyard with a mix of sand and loam. Aromas include black cherries, dark plums, blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, red peaches, and hints of apricots. Flavors include dark plums, dark cherries, boysenberries, blueberries, and cassis. There is a medium to full body with a natural sense of richness, good balance and acidity, and a long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Rib Eye, Roast Beef, short ribs, brisket, beef stew, BBQ beef ribs, lamb chops and leg of lamb, veal chops and roast veal, pork chops, tenderloin, and shoulder, grilled chicken, duck, cassoulet, grilled sausages, pasta with meat sauce, swordfish, tuna, clams, mussels, paella, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries and Tandoori dishes, beef enchiladas, tamales, rich Mexican food such as Alambres or with mole sauce, tacos, tapas, charcuterie, and mild, medium, rich, and creamy cheeses. The wine has a savory richness that results in all the food pairings.
Domaine du Murinais Crozes Hermitage “Cuvee Domaine” Rouge 2023 (OC, NF)
The Cuvee Domaine is from a vineyard in the eastern part of Crozes Hermitage where there is white clay. The wine is naturally fermented and so there is no manipulation at all but what is really striking are the “perfumed” aromas from the high-quality fruit grown in Luc’s vineyards. Prominent aromatics include dark cherries, dark plums, caramel, boysenberries, blueberries, currants, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Flavors include dark cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blueberries, and nectarines. There is a medium to full body, perfect balance and acidity along with an incredibly focused expression of fruit, and a really long medium to full minerally finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Rib Eye, Roast Beef, short ribs, beef stew, lamb chops, veal chops and roast veal, pork chops, roast pork, and tenderloin, grilled chicken, duck, duck confit, cassoulet, pasta with rich meat sauces and baked pasta dishes, tuna, cioppino, gazpacho, Asian beef, pork, chicken, and noodle dishes, Tandoori dishes and paneer dishes, Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, enchiladas, tamales, dishes with mole sauces, rich charcuterie, and medium, rich, and creamy cheeses.
