Barons De Rothschild Lafite Chateau D'Aussieres Domaines Corbieres 2016 750mL

The 2016 Château d'Aussières Corbières is a blend of 48 percent Syrah, 37 percent Mourvèdre, 8 percent Grenache, and 7 percent Carignan.

Grippy tannins and refreshing acidity support generous red and dark fruit tastes accented by subtle herb, mineral, and milk chocolate notes.

Alcohol is listed at a relatively high 14.5 percent, but the wine’s balance makes that all but irrelevant.

It will pair well with all kinds of meat dishes, roast chicken and turkey, and hearty winter stews. There is a refinement that calls to mind high-end Bordeaux, which may be more than just a coincidence.

Château d’Aussières is the flagship wine from Domaine d’Aussières, a 1,350-acre estate not far from the city of Narbonne. The domaine was acquired in 1999 by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), owner of the unparalleled Château Lafite Rothschild and other properties in Bordeaux as well as wine interests from Chile to China.

If you haven’t discovered them, the wines of Languedoc are worth getting to know, and Château d’Aussières is an excellent place to start.