La Pèira - Millésimes
La Pèira 2019
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2019 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
Mild winter period and early budding. Very dry and warm vintage similar in some ways to the 2009. High summer temperatures. June heatwave. Cooler August and some rain in September. Very dry growing season led to significant drops in volume from the previous year which itself was lower than the norm ( by 20%-30%). (La Pèira 2019 Vintage presentation)
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98
The 2019 Les Terrasses Du Larzac La Peira boasts a deep purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackcurrants, creme de cassis, scorched earth, and pepper. It’s another rich, powerful Syrah from this incredible terroir that has remarkable purity, ripe, polished tannins, and a great, great finish.
Andrew Jefford 96/100
La Pèira absolutely back to top form, and a classicism, purity and stylistic assurance that wasn’t evident in its exciting first decade. Bravo to all! Worthy of putting alongside the best from the Rhone, Bdx and Burg.
Wine Advocate 93-95/100
Full-bodied and rich, without being weighty or overdone, it’s a delicious offering that should drink well for close to two decades.
La Pèira 2018
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2018 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
Mild wet winter and sping lead to significant losses due to mildew with heavy rain during May and June. Around 30% of crop was lost at La Pèira due to mildew in 2018. July and August saw warm summer weather return. A warm August and September led to an unpressured harvest. (La Pèira 2018 Vintage presentation PDF)
Jeb Dunnuck 94
The 2018 Les Terrasses du Larzac La Peira is another rich, sexy wine from this team that ranks with the top wines from the region. Ample blackcurrants, blackberries, chocolate, and tapenade notes all define the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied and has a juicy, rounded mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It shows the more fruit-forward, ripe, sexy style of the vintage and should continue drinking nicely for at least another 7-8 years.
Jancis Robinson 17+
Cask sample. Healthy purplish crimson. Savoury, vigorous nose. Good lift with a floral top note. Still embryonic but this shows the potential to rival or even exceed the 2016 in terms of subtlety and sophistication. Real energy here as well as gloriously ripe, cossetted fruit. I’d love to taste this again once bottle. Admirably persistent already.
La Pèira 2017
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2017 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
Cold winter with good rainfall was followed by a warm spring. A cooler April here, as in Bordeaux and Burgundy, affected budburst and the flowering. A dry summer and low rainfall (again as with the 2017 vintage in Bordeaux and Burgundy) saw small berries resulting in reduced yields. Where the Hérault faired quite differently to other regions was the fair weather over the harvest period. This produced fine-quality wines but in small quantities.
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97+
The 2017 La Peira is brilliant. This estate continues to fashion some of the most impressive wines in the Languedoc. Blockbuster notes of smoked black fruits, ground pepper, and graphite all give way to full-bodied red that has building tannins, stunning purity of fruit, and a fresh, balanced, elegant style that’s going to age gracefully.
Jancis Robinson 17
Mid shaded crimson. Fresher nose than the 2016 at present, though the texture is just as opulent and the palate, if anything, more obviously sweet. With just a hint of heat on the finish. I wonder whether this has a little more Mourvèdre in the blend? There’s a slightly gamey note – but it’s a marvellous throat-soother. Very long and ripe. Just not quite as fresh on the palate.
Wine Advocate 92-95
I was shown a prospective blend for the 2017 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, which comprises 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. Still to fully absorb its oak, vanilla and cedar notes loom large against a backdrop of cola, plum and blueberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, it finishes long and dusty, with a fair bit of tannic clout.
Decanter Magazine/Georgina Hindle 94
An expressive nose bursting with blackcurrant and dark berry fruits enrobed by herbaceous elements of thyme and liquorice. A wonderfully silky texture on the palate but with such dense fruit flavour – really rich, heady and seductive. There’s energy too from the balancing acidity giving lift and drive. A wine that is delicious to drink now but will also age well and will be excellent in 10-15 years. A blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre. Available for around 55 euros.
(at France, 07 Sep 2020)
Part of Regional profile: Terrasses du Larzac plus 67 wines tasted
Drinking Window: 2020 – 2035
La Pèira 2016
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2016 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
A mild dry winter led to anearly budding and cool spring. This was followed by a warm dry summer (at the time said to be the dryest since 1944). Yields were down and quality said to be high espcially in appellations situated farthest from the sea.
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99
Up with the finest vintages of this cuvée and a candidate for perfection, the 2016 Terrasses du Larzac La Peira checks in as a Syrah-dominated blend raised all in barrel. It got more than one expletive in my notes and offers heavenly notes of black raspberries, garrigue, olives, lavender, and truffles. This full-bodied beauty has terrific mid-palate depth, sweet, polished tannin, and despite being a rich, powerful wine, has remarkable elegance and purity. I’ve called this estate one of the best in France, and I stand by that statement today. It’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the team at La Peira!
Jancis Robinson 17.5
Heady, intense, already complex nose that’s enormously ripe and concentrated yet beautifully refined with the smoothest tannins. Really very classy indeed. A seamless blend, with notes of both chocolate and vegetation to keep it fresh. Exceptionally long and pure without any excess heat on the end. Unfortunately I cannot see any stockist other than Vinatis in the UK (Berry Bros & Rudd used to list this wine), but Wine-searcher notes one US stockist, in Paso Robles. This is great winemaking and, presumably, terroir and vine growing.
Wine Advocate 95
The flagship wine, a blend of 70% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre, spent two years in 40% new oak. The 2016 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira shows some caramel and toast aromas as a result, although those come across as accenting the rich dark fruit, rather than being a dominant character. It’s full-bodied and ripe—almost syrupy in its levels of concentration—and layered with hints of cola, plum and baking spices. All of that richness is capped off by a soft dusting of tannins on the lengthy finish. Impressive stuff that should drink well for a decade or more.
La Pèira 2015
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2015 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
Early, hot vintage with dry growing conditions producing deep, rich, full-bodied wines with at the same time a purity of fruit and sound, tannic structure.
Wine Advocate (94 - 96)+
A serious, structured, concentrated vintage for the cuvee, the 2015 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is 47% Syrah, 45% Grenache and the balance Mourvèdre. Raised all in barrel, its inky purple color is followed by fabulous notes of black raspberries, scorched earth, crushed herbs and spring flowers. This bid, full-bodied, tannic effort has beautiful freshness and purity, and will have two decades of overall longevity. Drink Date NA (94 – 96)+
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 28th Apr 2016 Source 224, The Wine Advocate
Andrew Jefford
deep b-r
> ah yes now the Syrah comes thudding in with the sumptuous soft sweet black fruits, the virgin dark night dreaming sleeping beauty fruits … and thyme. Bit of rawness here but impressive.
> We’re back! It’s a great La Peira. All the depth, thunder, drum roll grandeur is there; better tannins than many; sensationally tight-knit fruits. Meaty too even thought the Mourvedre is elsewhere. Liquorice choc depths. Mind-blowing stuff. So concentrated, yet in this vintage so balanced, so fresh, so fine, so lifted, so spicy so grippy, such weighty tannins, such enrobed tannins. Such grown up black fruits. All the Languedoc’s sensuality but lifted to a very high degree of finesse and poise. Despite the richness, almost crisp and dramatic in this vintage. Wow: well done to all. A little bit reductive now but that’s as it should be for an unfinished serious red …
La Pèira 2014
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit. Average production: 3000 bottles.
2014 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
A dry year, where a coolish summer produced wines of concentration and quality. Fortunately, hail and rain, which touched much of the wider region, missed La Pèira (and the Terrasses du Larzac for the most part).
Wine Advocate (93 - 96)
One of the wines of the vintage will be the 2014 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira comes from a single parcel of vines just beside the estate and is a mix of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre that’s raised in 40% new barrels. Its inky color is followed by fabulous notes of blackberries, pepper, beef blood and violets. Big, rich, full-bodied and nicely balanced, with a great mid-palate and tons of chocolatey fruit on the finish, it’s less concentrated than the 2015 yet will evolve nicely on its balance. Drink Date NA (93 – 96)
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 28th Apr 2016 Source 224, The Wine Advocate
Andrew Jefford
Deep but not opaque
Rich, fudgy, thyme, clay, stone, sweet stone and earth, black fruits, very faintly funky but somehow there’s a savoury attractive overtone here (and the funk clears … on going back there is in fact more aromatic freshness and juicy detail than in the 13 — totally cleared after 30 mins, bs apres tout).
> Concentrated, one of the tenor ones, very taut and tight and almost cool, taste of wild brush leaves, very akin to a taste of the bush in Australia or a taste of the Fynbos in SA (and chaparral in California). Dry, bright, dramatic, intense, incisive … more G than Sy? Almost seems so. As I remember the 08. Not a particularly easy Peira to drink at this stage since almost painfully concentrated; in five years, the tenseness will have relaxed a little. Lacquered on the outside, despite the lunging concentration and dramatic acids on the inside. Essence of garrigue really; these are just other ways of struggling to say the same thing … The 15 alongside has a brightness and juiciness which this one doesn’t, as well as that pristine quality and those lovely poised textural tannins beneath. But note that with both the fruits are moving away super-ripe black fruits of the early years towards something much redder and livelier … you could even see this as redcurrant or cranberry.
La Pèira 2013
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2013 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
After cold, damp start to the year, an Indian summer led to a late harvest with Syrah and the late-ripening Carignan and Mourvèdre faring particularly well. A delicacy and youthful feeling of the finesse of the 2012 – but with more the frame and body of 2011.
Wine Advocate 93+/100
The top cuvee is the 2013 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, and in 2013 it’s a structured, closed, backwards and full-bodied effort that will need 3-4 years of cellaring to show its full potential. Offering lots of meatiness, roasted herbs, graphite and both black raspberry and blackberry fruit, it hits the palate with lots of tannin, good ripeness and a focused, firm texture. It will still be drinking nicely at age 20. 93+ / 100 Drink Date 2016 – 2036
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 28th Apr 2016 Source 224, The Wine Advocate
Andrew Jefford
Wine Advocate (95 - 97)
Moving to their top cuvee, the 2013 Terrasses du Larzac La Peira shows the purity and freshness of the vintage. Tasted out of barrel and a blend of mostly Syrah, with one-third Grenache, it exhibits impressive raspberry, cassis, violets (and assorted floral nuances), exotic spices and licorice to go with a medium to full-bodied, vibrant and decidedly elegant and fresh profile on the palate. As with the other 2013 barrel samples, I expect this to continue to gain weight and richness in barrel. Given the overall purity and balance, I imagine it will be reasonably approachable on release, yet benefit from short-term cellaring.
Issue Date 30th Apr 2014 Source 212, The Wine Advocate Jeb Dunnuck Drink Date N/A
La Pèira 2012
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2012 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
An atypical vintage for La Peira. A cold spring, then cooler in general (if sometimes volatile) weather over the summer and leading up to harvest. The result is a 2012 vintage that is relatively lean bodied for the region, with a lively, fresh profile, accessible at an early age, with an earlier drinking window.
Wine Advocate (94 - 96)
The 2012 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac La Peira is similar in style, with lively and fresh cassis, black raspberry, graphite, licorice and cedar notes flowing to a medium to full-bodied, profile on the palate. Pure, focused and nicely concentrated, enjoy it over the coming 10-12 years. (94 – 96) Drink Date 2014 – 2026
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Apr 2014 Source 212, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
Wine Advocate (La Peira Vertical 2016)
Perfumed, spicy and complex, with lots of red and black fruits, toasted spices, Provencal garrigue and leather, the 2012 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is medium to full-bodied, upfront, charming and already drinking beautifully. It should keep through 2022. 92/100 Drink Date 2015 – 2022
Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
La Pèira 2011
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2011 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
A good deal of replenishment in the winter rain led to a warm spring and early growing season. A cooler summer and perfect August and September meant the 2011 vintage delivered ripe but approachable wines.
Wine Advocate 96/100
More sexy in style than the 2012, the 2011 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira offers fabulous notes of black raspberry, currants, beef blood, graphite and chocolate that continue to change and develop in the glass. A big, full-bodied, textured Languedoc, it shows the sunny nature of the vintage, has solid mid-palate depth, plenty of fine tannin and a hedonistic, yet elegant slant that’s impossible to resist. It should cruise for another decade. 96/100 Drink Date 2016 – 2026
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
Very gratifying: dried saucisson, lavender, oranges, thyme flower, beautiful Syrah here. Fresh, sweet, poised, beguiling.
Intense, deep, liquorous, fleshy, tongue coating, lovely warm bass ripeness here. Not particularly tannic, but lovely fat and flesh. Saturated with herbs from top to bottom.Yes, liqueur of the garrigue, but very dry finishing, not liqueur sweet at all. Just complete. Totally “da meditazione“. Thunderous licorice and herbs and roots at the end. How can your head not be turned by this? Truly special occasion wine.
La Pèira 2010
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2010 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
2010 can be seen in some ways to mix qualities of the 2008 and 2009 vintage. Good spring rains, moderate early temperatures, lead to a growing season in the Terrasses du Larzac of warm days and fresh cool nights.
Wine Advocate 97+/100
One of the standouts is the 2010 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, and it might be the best in the lineup at maturity. Made from a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache that was brought up all in barrel, this full-bodied beauty shows a deep, concentrated, structured and cooler style to go with tons of black fruits, minerality, iron and a beef blood-like quality that comes out with time in the glass. Still youthful and fresh, with a touch of austerity, it needs another 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep through 2030. Drink Date 2019 – 2030
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
La Pèira 2009
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2009 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
If 2008 (and 2006) appear to be cooler or more continental vintages, 2009 (with 2007) can be said to be Mediterranean one. Warm, dry conditions (at times even hot) led to ripe, concentrated, and opulent wines.
Wine Advocate 99/100
I continue to absolutely love the 2009 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, and where the 2010 shows a cool, Bordeaux-like elegance and austerity, the 2009 is pure southern France in its exuberant, sexy, voluptuous and hedonistic personality. Black raspberries, spice-box, licorice and cured meats all emerge from this full-bodied, sexy, beast of a wine. It’s worth noting that this is the first vintage were they made the final blend right after the vinification and before going into barrel. There’s no harm cracking this beauty today, but it will certainly keep for another decade or more. 2016 – 2026
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
La Pèira 2008
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2008 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
A cooler vintage, characterized by a long, even ripening period, lead to the 2008 vintage producing approachable yet high-quality wines, with a lither, lively, fresh profile.
Wine Advocate 95/100
A hidden little gem, the 2008 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira offers a savory, complex, full-bodied, elegant style that shines in the vintage, and in fact, it might be one of the best wines from the south of France in the vintage. Giving up a terrific perfume of peppery herbs (there’s that classic Languedoc resinous scrub brush character), black fruits, truffle and crushed rock, it has beautiful mid-palate concentration, sound underlying structure and an impeccably balanced, age-worthy, lengthy feel. It shows incredible freshness and purity today, but will keep easily through 2026. It’s certainly not one of the most exuberant vintages here, yet it shows incredible class. 95/100 Drink 2016 – 2026
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
Wine Advocate 95/100 (Aug 2011)
La Pèira 2007
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2007 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
Early flowering, temperate summer, and a warm autumn led to lower yields in 2007, and rich ripe wines characterised too by a feeling of lift and balance.
Wine Advocate 98/100
A true blockbuster is the 2007 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira, which is one of the more Syrah-dominated releases with 68% Syrah and the rest a mix of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Utterly captivating in its sexy, exuberant, overflowing array of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, lavender and incense, this beauty has full-bodied richness and no hard edges, with sweet, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s up there with the handful of greatest wines I’ve tasted from the south of France, and should continue to knock your socks off over the coming 8-10 years. 98/100 Drink 2016 – 2026
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
La Pèira 2006
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2006 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
While summer was warm and dry, a cooler August in 2006 led to a protracted harvest as varieties slowly reached maturity lending a suppleness and sense of balance in our sector to otherwise concentrated wines
Wine Advocate 95/100
The 2006 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira comes from a cooler vintage where the team used additional saignée to boost the concentration level. Deep, rich and concentrated, it’s starting to show some maturity in its darker, chocolaty fruits, currants, licorice, and graphite aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied and beautifully balanced, it’s drinking right in its maturity window, but has plenty of life. I would drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will certainly keep longer. Drink 2016 – 2021 95/100
Jeb Dunnuck Issue Date 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
La Pèira 2005
AOC LARZAC
The desire to discover the site’s innate qualities through exceptional viticultural work has shaped La Pèira’s philosophy since the beginning. La Pèira is a cuvée of Syrah, Grenache, and is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Estate’s Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit.
2005 MILLÉSIME / VINTAGE
After a wet spring, 2005 proved overall a dry and warm vintage. Some welcomed rain before harvest introduced an otherwise sunny period before harvest which favoured later ripening cepages such as Syrah. The first vintage; concentrated and ripe.
Wine Advocate 97/100
The first vintage for the estate, and one of the great vintages for the cuvée, the 2005 Terrasses du Larzac la Peira is a big, rich, serious effort that’s still uber concentrated and structured, yet perfectly balanced and elegant, with no heaviness or weight on the palate. Loaded with notions of black currants, licorice, graphite, smoked meats and minerality, this beauty put an exclamation point on the term “Blockbuster!” Still lively and fresh, it’s a joy to drink today, but will cruise for another decade. 97/100 Drink 2016 – 2026
Jeb Dunnuck 30th Jun 2016 Source 225, The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson
Andrew Jefford
