Domaine Maby - Lirac Bel Canto 2017

A smooth palate with notes of rose, well-integrated tannins, and a lovely, spicy finish.

In the historic region of Tavel, the Maby family produces wines of consistent quality—always authentic, pleasant, and full-bodied. Led by the dynamic Richard Maby, the estate continues to evolve, with the wines gaining in precision each year. The vineyards are located in the municipalities of Tavel, the Lirac plateau, and the neighboring Côtes du Rhône. Reasonable prices and the consistent quality of the wines make this estate a safe bet on the current market—across all three wine types.

This estate, known for its consistently high-quality wines—particularly its Lirac wines in all three varieties and its Tavel wines—was founded in 1950 by Armand Maby. In 2005, his grandson Richard took over the vineyard, which spans 53 hectares, mostly situated on the rounded pebbles of the Vallongue plateau; the vines are cultivated “naturally” and have been in the process of converting to organic farming since 2019. Since 2011, the eminent Rhône oenologist Philippe Cambie has been advising the estate.

The 2017 Lirac Bel Canto—a 100% Grenache cuvée aged in demi-muids—features enticing aromas of peppery roast meat, caramel, black cherry, and cola. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich, and velvety, with an intense, smooth finish. [...]

Mature and elegant in style, with flavors of plum, blackcurrant, and stewed blackberry, underpinned by a note of burnt alder and hints of smoky tobacco and bittersweet cocoa. Very robust.

Deep, youthful ruby color. A refined, elegant nose, blending stone fruits (plum, cherry) with spicy, balsamic notes and a mineral undertone. Full-bodied and expansive, with fruit that energizes the whole. Controlled power. A Lirac of great aromatic purity.