Languedoc at the London Wine Fair

The big Languedoc event at the London Wine Fair was the tasting of the winning Top 100 Wines.   See my previous post.  But there were other delights on smaller stands.  A new event this year was Esoterica, which grouped together a wonderfully eclectic collection of small importers and wine merchants, people who would not normally want to exhibit at the fair, but were able to,  thanks to the simplicity of the presentation - a table and some bottles and glasses.  There was a real buzz of excitement.   I found myself tasting wines from Greece and Long Island, but there were also some Languedoc highlights. Expression du Terroir, which is an arm of Borough Wines, in London N16 has some interesting Languedoc offering, C de Centeilles, Clos du Serres, Virgile Joly and Turner Pageot.  However, I passed these by as I was seeking out the unfamiliar at this point.

However I did stop to taste Domaine la Tour Vieille with Christine Campadieu wines on the Yapp Bros stand.   She and her partner Vincent make lovely Collioure and Banyuls that I had not tasted for a while.

2012 Collioure Blanc les Canadells, a blend of Grenache Blanc, with 10% each of Rolle, Marsanne and Roussanne.   Quite a closed young nose.  Not as expressive as some vintages, but with some lovely potential on the palate.  Rounded fruit and textured palate.   It would benefit from a little more bottle age.

2012 Collioure, la Pinède

Grenache with some Carignan aged in small barrel.  Ripe spice on both nose and palate, with the warmth of Roussillon.  Ripe and young with plenty of potential

2012 Collioure Puig Oriol

70% Syrah with Grenache.   Quite a contrast.  More structured, concentrated and peppery.  Quite dense firm ripe fruit. Again with ageing potential.

Banyuls Reserve

Aged in bonbons , with an average age of five or six years.  Some appealing rich raisiny fruit.  Rich and intense with ripe fruit and quite delicious.  It was in fact my finale to the fair.

And earlier in the morning I had passed by Chateau d’Anglès for a quick update with Eric and Vianney Fabre.  I had missed the la Clape walk this year, so wanted a catch up.   They are very pleased with their 2013s, describing it as a fantastic vintage.  The cool nights and the late harvest have kept the aromas in the grapes.  They began picking in mid-September finishing at the end of October.

2011 La Clape Blanc, Classique.

Sappy fresh acidity and some weight.  Nice texture.   Very harmonious and rounded. 

2011 Grand Vin Blanc

More weight, with the influence of oak.  Rounded, herbal hints and more depth.  Again very satisfying mouth feel.

2013 Rosé Classique.

Pale colour.  Youthful and fresh, but still a touch amylic, but that will disappear in a month or so.   Elegant with sufficient weight to make it a food rosé.

2010 Classique red

Syrah and Grenache with a little Mourvèdre.  Rounded ripe warm fruit, with restraint.

2009 Grand Vin.  

Quite firm and structured on the nose, and on the palate very good depth of flavour, with ripe fruit.  Again warmth, but with restraint.  More weight and body than the Classique, but not heavy.   You can sense the bordelais touch to Eric’s wines.