I tasted the Syrah-dominated 2016 Minervois la Liviniere les Amandiers twice during my trip, once at the estate and once at the CIVL. And on both occasions, I had some concerns about the level of oak (it's aged in 100% new barriques from Radoux). There's no doubting the quality of the blueberry-tinged fruit going into this cuvée, and there's even some peppery spice for complexity. The tannins are ripe, the wine is creamy through the mid-palate and it shows good length on the finish. If all of the vanilla and cedar notes integrate over time, my rating could end up looking stingy, but I'd rather be conservative with a wine like this.

Open-knit, with good concentration to the blackberry reduction and crushed plum notes, accented by olive, mocha and black tea details. Fresh acidity binds all the elements through the finish, infused with dried herb, graphite and spice hints. Drink now through 2025. 50 cases made, 40 cases imported.