We tasted this week with David Lesmond of Mas Amiel. Mas Amiel grows Rhone varietals in the very rich soils of the French Maury Sec. This area is internationally heralded for Port like dessert and fortified wines. Their dry wines are not as well known, the y are primarily consumed locally. The subject of today's offer is their 2015 Grenache, Syrah, Carignan blend , The  Vers Le Nord. This wine is quite exotic. The texture is rich. The flavor profile is both red and black. The vines are in excess of 70 years. There is a central component amidst blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry fruit which crosses from leather to spicy tobacco. Everything about this wines profile and structure reminded me of Chateau BeaucastelChateauneuf du Pape. When I mentioned that to Blake ( Blake Maso of Misa Imports who brought David Lesmond ) he grinned and opened his notes to where he had made the same comparison to Beaucastel.  The 2015 Vers Le Nord is of obvious winemaking skill and quality therefore a sensational red wine value under thirty dollars.

"The 2015 Maury Sec,  Vers Le Nord is a killer red that's made from Grenache and Syrah. Notes of lavender, iris flower, plums and hints of blueberry all give way to full bodied , supple , very pretty, even exotic red that has supple tannin and good freshness.  Drink it over the next 5-7 years ".   92 points The Wine Advocate