The 2016 Clos des Sixte (Alain Jaume) Lirac is a proprietary blend red wine hailing from the Southern Rhone region of France. Produced by Alain Jaume, this wine is composed of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre, with 30% of the blend aged in oak. It has an alcohol content of 15.0% and is sealed with a cork closure.
The wine has received high praise from professional reviewers, with scores in the low 90s across the board. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it a 92, emphasizing its consistency and calling it a "superstar wine." He noted its "loads of dark fruits, peppery herbs, graphite, and crushed rock," and described it as "medium to full-bodied, rich, and powerful," while maintaining a polished and elegant profile. He suggests it can be enjoyed "any time over the coming 7-8 years."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the wine an even higher score of 93+, likening it to a Châteauneuf du Pape. The review highlighted its "alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries" and praised its full-bodied, lush, and concentrated palate. According to the review, the wine turns "velvety on the long finish" and is recommended for cellaring, suggesting it be held for a few years and then enjoyed over the next 15 years.
Wine Enthusiast also scored the wine a 93, with Anna Lee C. Iijima describing it as having "fleshy plum and black-cherry flavors juxtaposed by dark shades of anise, crushed granite, and sage." She commended its bold, richly textured character, noting its "polished and penetrating" nature, and suggested that it should continue to improve through 2026.
In summary, the 2016 Clos des Sixte (Alain Jaume) Lirac is a highly regarded wine that balances rich, dark fruit flavors with complex notes of spice and minerality. It is recommended both for immediate enjoyment and for cellaring, with the potential to develop further complexity over the next decade or so.