Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!! I'd buy more immediately, if I didn't have to make another roadtrip to an unrestricted state to collect it. The absolute BEST French red blended wine I have ever tasted! Which means a lot since I am from a Louisiana French family on my Dad's side & have had hundreds of French red blends. If I could give this wine 6 hearts or 99 points, I would! The winemaker said he thinks this is possibly the best wine he's ever made. I think he's right! :) Added to my NW Favorites list. Pairing notes: Fabulous with seafood gumbo! The gumbo brings out the complexity in the wine's flavors. The intoxicating and unique violet-flower and cassis nose of the Lirac blends deliciously with the spicy aroma of gumbo. Gumbo flavors enhance the sensation of this wine's fruity 'sweetness' on the palate. I say 'sweetness' in quotes because this wine is dry, but the intense fruit-forward palate flavors make it mimic sweetness and this effect becomes more pronounced when paired with seafood gumbo. Blue cheese can overpower quite a few wines. But not a rich red like this Lirac. I had some Roquefort on gluten-free pecan crackers as an appetizer tonight and paired it with the Joly Lirac 2012. To my delight, the Joly Lirac held its own with the Roquefort and created some delightful flavor combos on the palate! Joly Lirac was not overwhelmed by the Roquefort, as lesser wines would be. Instead it seemed to enhance the creaminess of the cheese. The cheese enhanced the fruitiness, violet flavor (YES! Natural Violet flavor! I know, rare in wine but I grow and eat Violets for medicinal reasons and for fun so I know Violet flavor when I taste it!!) ...and spiciness in the Lirac. A fun pairing to be sure! Not recommended for pairing with Paleo banana-coconut bread, lol. I knew in advance it was probably gonna be a bad pairing but I wanted some healthy dessert and this banana bread is what I had available so I went for it. Definitely a clash of flavors. ROFL. Might have worked, if not for the banana. There are some almond-like flavor notes in the Lirac's lingering finish that would match with coconut as in, maybe some coconut macaroons made with honey instead of sugar. I was only able to get 2 bottles of this wine, so I am keeping the other one till 2019, to enjoy on my son's 7th birthday! He was born in 2012. This is definitely impressive enough to be worth the long aging attempt. Virgile Joly - Thank you so much for making such a masterpiece for us!
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