Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,846 strong:

Register Today!

Abbotts & Delaunay 2013 Wine Review

Abbotts & Delaunay 2013

Abbotts & Delaunay 2013

Minervois AOC, France

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 9

  Add My Review


Price: $19.95

Drink: 2014-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Abbotts & Delaunay

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Cedar-lovely with fresh aromas of pristine forest floor, wild dark red berries and spring earth coming to life again. Full-bodied, bright, supple and smooth. Bring on the prime rib please.

Food pairings: stewed meats, grilled rabbit, duck breast or a cheese platter.

This Abbotts & Delaunay 2013 was reviewed on April 15, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

  Add New Vintage

Reviews and Ratings

Kristin Perrin rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Dark chocolate, coffee, blackberries, raisins, lavender, eucalyptus nose
Full bodied, gripping tannins, all of the above echoed on the palate

Roast lamb
Terry Jeans - Certified S rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This has some rich dark fruit aromas, with cedar, coco and spice. A full-bodied wine with lots of layers, acidity and tannins. A big food friendly wine that would counter a big meaty dish handily. Good value for a wine of this complexity.
Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Inviting black fruit, vanilla, baking spices and a little graphite bounce out of the glass. Flavours repeat the nose of this full bodied red. Minervois brings some high grippy tannins, balanced acidity and a satiny blackberry fruit finish. Enjoy with grilled bison or elk medallions.
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby, the nose shows more Syrah typicity than the Cotes Du Roussillon bottling, with more floral and pepper notes to the red berry and plummy fruit. The black pepper notes carry through on the palate along with lively red fruit. Medium bodied and good length. Syrah, Carignan and Grenache. A nice match with smoked meat platter. Tasted April 2015.
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Big and bold, this is a meaty wine with loads of integrated tannins. Dark fruit, chocolate, underbrush, and spice on the nose and palate. Pair with BBQ steaks or dry ribs. Tasted April 2015. 89 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Astrid Young - Sommelier ISG CAPS rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Powerfully fragrant, with slightly reductive notes on the nose. Exotic spice, cigar leaf and chocolate box over dark dried plums and a pleasantly spicy peppery note. Big meaty dishes, braised oxtail or lamb shank would do well.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Aromas of cigar box, cedar, plums, and black pepper. Very much oak over fruit in the aromas, The taste is similar, with fine tannins and a medium acidity. The mouth-feel is velvety and there's a medium tannic plum finish.
Serve at 17°C. This is a southern French red wine blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan grapes.

The grapes come from three terroirs: the Causses (these grapes, grown at high altitudes, give freshness), the foothills of the Montagne Noire (a hot, arid area whose grapes lend warm, concentrated, complex flavours) and the terraces of the Montagne Noire (temperate sector).

The grapes are hand-picked and brought to the winery in tubs (40 to 50- kg maximum). The Carignan and Syrah grapes are vinified whole (carbonic maceration) while the Grenache
grapes are destemmed. Maceration time, determined by tasting, varies according to the grape variety, the terroir and the vintage. The press wine is added to the free-run wine.

The wine is aged in 40% barrels (20% new oak) and 60% stainless steel tanks.

Garnet in colour with black tinges. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cooked cherry and a hint of liquorice. Notes of venison, forest undergrowth, chocolate and toast.

Smooth from the start and full-bodied with well-integrated tannins and a delicate touch of vanilla on the finish. A delectable wine that is immensely round and velvety finish.

Source: Agent (Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.)

If you liked the Abbotts & Delaunay 2013, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Abbotts & Delaunay 2013

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Charles Baker White Wine
Riesling 2021,
Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A. ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,846 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award