Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,446 strong:

Register Today!

Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012 Wine Review

Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012

Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012

France

Community Score:91/100

Community Reviews: 4

  Add My Review


Price: $24.95

Drink: 2013-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Abbotts & Delaunay

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 93/100

A distinguished Carignon with great flair, finesse and individuality. Incredible depth and layering of dark red fruit flavour mingling with spice. This leads to a hedonistically long finish. Wow. Pair with a pepper steak.

Carignan food pairings: feathered game, cured ham, spicy cuisine, Japanese dishes.

This Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012 was reviewed on April 15, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Single varietal Carignan, deep ruby with stewed mixed berries and spicy notes from the glass. Juicy, red and black berry with cherry on the palate along with some toasty oak notes. Medium full body, nice acidity carries the fruit to a med-long spicy finish with fine tannins make an apperance. Tasted April 2015
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A unique single varietal expression of Carignan from the South of France. Beautiful smokey charcoal grilled beef notes, stewed fruits, and grilled beets. A lovely wine to enjoy with charcoal BBQ grilled meats. Tasted March 2015. 90 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Carignan is the grape variety for hot, dry climates, yielding wines full of harmony and elegance.

We have selected two types of terroirs: 100-year-old vines growing at high altitudes which lend freshness and arid Mediterranean soils where the vines grow alongside the garrigue shrubland.

The grapes are handpicked at their peak of maturity. 60% are vinified in whole bunch while 40% undergo a traditional vinification . The traditionally vinified grapes are left to macerate for approximately 14 days while the whole grapes maceration lasts between 5 and 12 days.

The exact duration is determined by daily tastings. The wines are racked at the end of alcoholic fermentation and are transferred to 225-litre barrels where they undergo malolactic fermentation. The press wine is added to the free-run wine.

This wine is aged for 9 months in 60% in oak barrels (30% new oak, 40% one-year-old barrels, 30% two-year-old barrels).
About 40% of the wine stays in stainless steel tanks in order to keep some freshness.

Dark, lively colour. A slightly wild, herbaceous nose with notes of rhubarb, liquorice, gingerbread and pear.

Source: Agent (Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.)

If you liked the Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Abbotts & Delaunay Alto Stratus Carignan 2012

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!

Daou Red Wine
2021,
Paso Robles, California ...

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 333,446 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