A bright wine for the holiday season

In service of the quest for “delectaffordable” wine …

THE WINE GUY

Domaine Duseigneur’s “Antarès” Lirac 2021 is a bright wine named after a very bright star … and a good match for some traditional holiday fare.

This selection by illustrious Beaune wine merchant Jeanne-Marie De Champs is imported by Austin-based Serendipity Wines. Here’s a wine that offers an unbeatable value-to-taste ratio.

Let’s begin with a blend of astronomy and astrology.

Why the name Antarès? Because this wine is certified both biodynamic and organic, (Biodivin and Ecocert). One of the basic principles of biodynamics is to work the vineyards and their production in harmony with cosmic rhythms.

As such, winemaker Bernard Duseigneur is respectful and aware of such celestial rhythms. He named his wine “Antarès” after a giant star situated in the Scorpio constellation.

Now, let’s talk about Terroir. Lirac is an appellation in the Southern Rhône Valley. Antarès is crafted with 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre grapes grown from 50-year-old vines planted in deep sands and sandstone soils on North-facing hillsides at 160m (525 feet) altitude and situated at the Western end of the Lirac appellation.

Harvested by hand, the grapes are then fully de-stemmed and gently pressed. Each variety is vinified separately using only natural indigenous yeasts.

The Grenache is held in cement vats while the Mourvèdre receives 12 months of controlled French oak exposure in used “demi-muids,” which are large oak casks traditional to the Rhône region. A demi-muid equals 600 liters or about 160 gallons.

What to expect on the taste and mouthfeel: Full bodied with balanced acidity sustained with fine-grained tannins giving out silky notes of crushed stone, dark berries (think black cherry, raspberries, cranberry), and muted but fragrant notes of wild strawberries with a subtle hint of pine and a note of white pepper.

This would pair well with stews, roasted meats and veggies, as well as heavier meats and game birds (example: turkey or honey-baked ham).

A bit more about the wine’s namesake, the star Antarès (aka. Alpha Scorpii). It is known as a “Red Giant.” Both a binary star and also the main star in the constellation of Scorpio, it is located about 550 light years away from earth and measures approximately 700 to 900 times the size of our Sun and emits light that’s 10,000 times brighter than the Sun.

Antarès Lirac: Get some at DeVino Cellars 1109 S. Main St. In Boerne. Feel free to email me with any wine-related questions: Olivierthewineguy@