LVT  2017 rosé  2016  wh  2015  r  Trying to improve quality, 2014 and 2017 Lirac rosé Vieilles Vignes ***(*) wines, and the Lirac Tradition blanc a shapely ***(*) wine in 2016

LVT 2012 r 2018 wh One of the better names at Lirac, with good packing in the half Syrah, half Grenache red. The estate changed generation in 2017, having been run by Christophe Valat, the half brother of long-term family owner Robert Fuget, who also owned Château Saint-Maurice at Laudun. The vineyard is on the sandy soils near Antoine Verda's old, reputed vineyard. The 2017 Lirac Lucas blanc was a soft, rounded ***(*) wine, while the 2017 Lirac Olympe rosé was Tavel-esque, a good dining **** wine

LVT 2012 rosé 2011 r 2011 wh Good, very drinkable rosés, some decent reds, and whites can be excellent, from very suitable draining soils

LVT 2016 rosé 2016 r 2018 wh Son Nicolas, in his 30s, is an oenologue. Gradual rise in quality, clear tasting Lirac rosé and punchy red Lirac Quatuor, the last-named an intricate connoisseur's **** wine in both 2015 and 2016, with good contributions from its Cinsault and Mourvèdre. The 2016 Lirac Magnolia white was a most pleasurable **** wine, while the Lirac Eglantine rosé is a full-bodied, table wine, around the ***(*) mark usually

LVT 2016 r 2018 wh 2012 rosé Flourishing, very drinkable wines. The lesser wines have caught up the main Baron Louis, which from 2010 has been made as Lirac, and are good value, also w.o.w., as in the case of the 2014 Lirac red. The Baron Louis is a wine that takes its time, is classically structured, its tannins notably refined in a **** vintage such as 2016. Very good, light-touch whites as well, including an exceptional Lirac blanc (previously Côtes du Rhône), the Madame la Comtesse de Montfaucon, that is composed of Clairette blanche and rose from 19th century vines: the 2016 of that was a classy, true ****(*) wine, the 2017 also ****(*). Another top grade white was the 2018 Lirac Comtesse Madeleine (Marsanne, Clairette, Grenache blanc, Picpoul), a ****(*) wine of notable finesse given the context of the hot summer. By the mid-2010s, there was more Lirac and less Côtes du Rhône

LVT 2018 rosé 2016 r 2008 wh Long-established, large estate at Lirac, the heart of the appellation. Bought by Henri de Lanzac in 1995. The good red Côtes du Rhône Clos de l'Hermitage comes from the vineyard near Avignon of Jean Alesi, the Formula 1 racing driver. The Tavel was good in 2014, and a very good ****(*) in 2015, also **** in 2018.

LVT 2018 wh 2012  r  2015  rosé  Modest fare, has never taken off in all the decades I have known it

LVT 2016 r 2018 wh 2017 rosé Competent, recently improving wines from the very large Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate, which owns over 20 hectares of Lirac on the galet stone plateau at Roquemaure, something of an extension of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape soils. A little mechanical at times, but the 2014 red, 2015 and 2016 reds were good **** wines, the 2015 and 2016 both full of gusto. The white is modern, well-made, often ***(*)

LVT 2017 r 2018 wh 2012 rosé From the Château de la Gardine at Châteauneuf-du-Pape stable, made by Eve Brunel. High quality whites, very drinkable, the 2017 and 2018 Lirac blancs both pedigree, delightful ****(*) wines, and also including the Côtes du Rhône, whose 2016 red was a squeezy ***(*) wine. The Lirac red accentuates cool fruit, the 2014 a ***(*) w.o.w. wine. The Lirac Confidentielle red is oaked, within reason; the 2015 was a **** wine, while the Lirac Palmes red is zero added SO2 wine, the 2015 a wholesome, genuine ***(*), the 2016 ****

LVT 2009 r 2008 rosé From Alain Jaume of Grand Veneur at Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A leading Lirac - very good, consistent quality.

LVT 2016 r  Julien, not from a wine background, started in 2014 with 2.7 hectares of old vines, all planted in 1966, based on Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre that he bought from a Co-operateur from the Cave du Cru Lirac. The vineyard had not been worked with weedkillers. Julien’s main job is at the biodynamic Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine de la Vieille Julienne. He has no viticole or agricultural background, but always wanted to work on the land. These are small scale [up to 6,000 bottles], no chemical use, hand harvested, unfiltered wines that are sold locally. The 2016 Lirac red gave a genuine, local portrait, and was a wholesome **** wine

LVT 2018 rosé 2011 wh 2011 r Good, lively wines, can be inconsistent

LVT  2016  r  2018 wh  2017 rosé Fair; used to be a wacky, enterprising couple here, refugees from Algeria. The best recent wine by some way was the 2016 **** Lirac Cuvée Signature red, while the 2017 Lirac blanc, admittedly showing its low temperature fermentation in its style of tropical fruits, was a bouncy ***(*) wine, with the 2018 Lirac blanc a well made, genuine **** wine

LVT 2016 r This is a domaine on the up. There has been a soaked, modern, plush style on the Lirac reds, but 2016 marked a step forward in terms of style and poise. The Lirac Hommage red was an ample, impressively long ****(*) wine, the Dedicace Lirac red a shapely, enjoyable **** wine. There was also a buzzy *** 2015 Côtes du Rhône red

LVT 2016  r  2016 wh Domaine name changed in 2011, seeking a higher profile. Also makes authentic, organic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is based at Roquemaure, opposite the Châteauneuf vineyards. The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Ancien Domaine des Pontifes red was a ****, possessing a genuine Grenache heartbeat, while the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Ancien Domaine des Pontifes Elise white was a sturdy, natural, honest **** wine.

LVT  2015  wh  2010  r  2012 rosé  Also make good Tavel and a beau Côtes du Rhône white. The domaine is converting to organic.

LVT  2015  r  A joint venture between two good estates at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Marcoux and Roncière. 8 hectares. Solid wine, more recently on style over power to the point of being very polished up. It was called Domaine La Lorentine until the late 2000s, then changed to Domaine de Marcoux, the wine called La Lorentine.

LVT 2007 r Biodynamic wines. Purity sought over power.

LVT 2018 rosé 2017 red 2018  wh  Organic domaine since 1997, now biodynamic. STGT qualities. The wines always have character, and it's an address for the enthusiasts who want to think about whjat they are drinking. The Côtes du Rhône Lunar Apogé red is proper naked wine, full of vim, while the 2015 Lirac red was a **** Thinker's wine. There is a good, grounded Tavel fermented at 21°C to allow the wild yeasts full play.

LVT 2016 r  One of the Assemat family's domaines at Roquemaure. The Lirac Reserve Syrah is in reality 50% Syrah, the rest 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre; the 2016 was fair, a *** wine

LVT  2015  rosé  2017 r  2017 wh This is an organic, biodynamic domaine, started in the early 2010s, and a really good Lirac address. The three Lirac reds hit a good standard, and this is a new name to note. Two of the Lirac reds, the Pierre de Josette (95%) and the Pradau (90%) are mainly Syrah, the Canto Bruno half Grenache, half Mourvèdre, and a **** bwine in 2016; the 2015 Pierre de Josette was a **** wine with good heart, the 2016 very genuine ****(*) wine.

The wines are made in the old Domaine Duseigneur cellar. A recent addition has been a 2,000 bottle Lirac Pradau blanc, based on Bourboulenc, so that holds interest, the 2017 a ***(*) wine. Both the Laudun Maestral wines – the white 100% Clairette – are good, the 2014 white a healthy **** wine, the 2016 Maestral red a **** wine. Since 2015 there has been a 1,600 bottle Châteauneuf-du-Pape red, 100% Syrah, called Espirito - the 2015 was commendably fresh, a **** wine. At the lower end of the scale, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Le Regalant red was a **** wine of character.

LVT 2018 r 2017 wh 2017 rosé After organic debuts, a biodynamic domaine. Good quality, interesting wines, the Lirac Le Blanc white has character, is very much a table wine. The Lirac Les Muses is 90% Mourvèdre (1975-77, mid-1990s); the 2014 was an exciting **** wine, the ****(*) 2015 full of gusto, highly recommended. The other two 2015 Lirac reds, Le Classique and Le Gourmand were both **** wines. All reds are underground concrete vat raised. The 2018 harvest was so small - 7 hl/ha - that Marine was forced to buy organic harvest from Costières de Nîmes to issue what is usually her Côtes du Rhône red, which was therefore Vin de France, a ***(*) with very likeable fruit, nevertheless.

LVT  2014  r  Gérald is a full-time oenologue working with local domaines. On his own account, he works vineyards inherited from his father in Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, plus a small plot from the plateau at Lirac. Quality is improving, and the 2014 La Vigne d'Yvon Lirac red was ***(*) wine.

LVT  2007  r  Early 2000s start-up, decent body in the classic red Lirac

LVT  2016  r 2018 wh  A domaine of some potential. Created in 1994, 23 hectares. Son Romain has been on the domaine since 2011. Vineyards in Rochefort-du-Gard, Saze and for the Lirac, Saint Laurent des Arbres. 20% bottled. The 2014 Lirac reds were both ***(*) wines, while the 2016 Lirac Elie red was a **** wine, as was the 2016 Lirac very old vine Grenache Marie, where easing back of the oak would help.

LVT  2012 r  Bottled by a merchant at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is made by full-time oenologue Gérald Lafont of Domaine d’Arbousset at Lirac

LVT 2012 wh  2012 rosé  2011 r  Fascinating story. Denis and wife Nathalie are both from Roquemaure. His father was a plumber, her parents were agricole-viticole. Denis Daurelle’s main job is selling vats and presses, a company he set up in 2004. It sells “anything from the reception of the harvest until the equipment needed for bottling.” He is well involved in avant garde concrete vats from Padua in Italy, sold to leading Bordeaux châteaux such as Prieuré-Lichine, Chapoutier in the northern Rhône and Julien Barrot at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, for instance.  Domaine started in 2007, when he bought 5.5 hectares of the old Antoine Verda estate. 2007 was vinified chez Verda, the 2008 in his own small, near-garage cellar.

LVT 2016 r 2018 rosé 2018 wh Improvement, even if a bit technical. Sound white Lirac, a step up recently, as well as in the Lirac reds, with the 2014 Tradition and 2014 Saint Valentin both ***(*) wines, the Tradition w.o.w. The Lirac Terra Ancestra red is new oaked, but that works on half Syrah, half Mourvèdre, the combination used in 2016 for a **** wine. Some of the 2015 red Côtes du Rhônes such as Bio and 1737 were below par, but the 2015 Lirac Saint Valentin red was once more a ***(*) wine. The Lirac white is good quality, often ***(*), and the 2017 STGT

LVT  2014  r  2018 wh  2017 rosé  Isabelle Boulaire's family previously sent crop to the Cave Co-operative of Saint-Laurent. She is the 12th generation of vignerons. The first red in bottle (limited amount bottled) was 2009, with a rosé that is full of character and body added in 2011. Greater finesse and precision came through after 2011, and a white was added in 2016. There's a  real hand-made feel here - it's a very good address.

LVT  2018  wh  2016 r  25 hectare domaine, ex Tour des Chênes, which was started in the 1960s by Pieds Noirs from Algeria. Taken over by the Brechet family of Château de Vaudieu at Châteauneuf-du-Pape in late 2011. There has been improvement, with soft, oaked red wines and good, stylish whites, the white **** in 2016, ****(*) in 2017, a most marked step forward for the latter, which is handled in used 600-litre oak casks, the harvest taken from a fresh, sandy, forest-lined vineyard at Saint Laurent des Arbres

LVT 2014  r  2012 rosé  2012 wh  Variable reds. Since 2012 a new pneumatic press has helped white and rosé quality. Two domaines come under this name - Domaine des Garrigues and Domaine des Causses & Saint Eynes, with the old Castel Oualou title still used as well under its own right

LVT 2016 r  The Boudinauds have been involved in the development of branded wines such as Fat Bastard and Le Freak. There are vineyards as well, mainly Côtes du Rhône on the west bank Gard département. The Lirac red, a merchant wine, is relatively recent.