Xavier Vignon & Barbare Cuvée XL Premier 2012

While outside this report, I was able to taste the 2012 Barbare XL Premier with winema-ker Xavier Vignon and it's a wine that's well worth seeking out. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from clay soils along the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey, it boasts a stunning bouquet of blackberries, leather, spice box, cedar, and flowers. Complex and medium-bodied, with an elegant, seamless tex-ture and fine tannins, it's a remarkable wine that will keep for 8-10 years.