France
This is a wine with an Australian Connection. Nerida Abbott (An Australian Wine maker) established the winery in 1996, near the town of Montpellier in the Languedoc region. It was then purchased in 2006 by Laurent Delaunay, a Burgundy based negotiant, who was convinced by the tremendous potential of the Languedoc’s terroirs.
The 2010 Cumluo Nimbus is lavish, but certainly not over the top. It is part of their flagship range of wines, called Storms and Clouds – hence the name.
Historically the wines of Minervios were made from the native grape variety Carignan, however a lot of the recent improvement in quality can be traced back to the inclusion of Syrah and Mouvedre in the blends. The Cumulo Nimbus consists of 90% Shiraz – 10% Carignan and is all the better for it. The fruit is handpicked from old vine, high altitude vineyards and made in tiny quantities. The wine only spent 6 months in 1-2 year old French barrels, but the oak supports the powerful fruit.
An elegant wine with blackcurrant, plum and violet characters, but with a distinct mineral edge that keeps the wine intriguing. This is a great example of the modern style of Minervois. You have the slightly rustic and hearty elements from the Carignan, but this is enhanced and complimented by the elegance and silkiness of the Shiraz. The result is an hypnotic wine that is seamless with a silky and luscious finish.