Domaine Rostaing : Puech Noble 2016

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for the Puech Noble 2016 from Domaine Rostaing

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep ruby hue shading toward garnet, with fine intensity without being fully opaque.

Nose

The bouquet opens with intense black-fruit aromas: black raspberry, blackberry and blackcurrant. These fruity notes are joined by a distinctive peppery minerality, evoking black pepper and wild herbs. With aeration, hints of licorice, bay leaf and Provençal herbs emerge, bringing beautiful aromatic complexity.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shows a medium-bodied to full-bodied structure, balanced by bright acidity that brings freshness and definition. The tannins are present and structured, yet perfectly integrated, offering a supple, seamless texture. The finish, medium-long to long, lingers on flavors of black fruit and peppery minerality, remaining dry and well-balanced.

Food and wine pairings

This Puech Noble 2016 pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted meats, especially lamb, whose richness is elevated by the wine’s acidity. It also elegantly complements mushroom-based dishes, fine charcuterie from southern France, as well as hard and semi-hard cheeses. Substantial fish such as herb-roasted bluefin tuna also makes a successful match.

A Languedoc wine combining northern finesse and southern richness

The estate

The Domaine Rostaing was founded in 1971 by René Rostaing in Côte-Rôtie. In the late 1990s, René and his wife acquired an estate in the Coteaux du Languedoc near Nîmes, named Puech Noble. This southern expansion enables the estate to explore the potential of syrah grown on limestone soils. Since 2015, Pierre Rostaing, René’s son, has run the entire estate, which now spans more than twenty hectares. The domaine is internationally recognized for its traditionalist approach and its commitment to the authentic expression of terroirs.

The vineyard

The Puech Noble vineyard lies in the Coteaux du Languedoc, near Nîmes, on a small elevated plateau at 150 meters above sea level. The terroir is characterized by garrigue and limestone soils, covered with rounded pebbles. This higher elevation gives the wines remarkable freshness and elegance, while still benefiting from the richness of the Mediterranean climate.

The vintage

The year 2016 was particularly favorable in the Languedoc. The region benefited from conducive weather conditions that allowed the grapes to ripen optimally. This generous vintage stands out for its suitable weather and a well-balanced harvest, especially on limestone terroirs such as that of Puech Noble.

Winemaking and aging

Puech Noble 2016 is vinified using a traditionalist approach, favoring long, gentle macerations. Aging is split between stainless-steel tanks and older wooden barrels, preserving the freshness of the primary fruit while allowing for slight evolution. The minimal use of new oak ensures the wine’s purity and elegance, with oak never distracting from the expression of the terroir.

Grape varieties

Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache