Stone Vine & Sun at the Occitanie tasting
Stone, Vine & Sun are wine merchants in Winchester who have made something of a speciality of the Languedoc. There were some old favourites and some estates that were completely new to me. The prices are their recommended retail prices.
2021 La Combe Saint Paul, IGP Pays d’Oc, Vermentino - £10.00
From an estate of the edge of the Massif of La Clape. A refreshing example of Vermentino. Fresh and pithy with good acidity, making for easy quaffing.
2020 Domaine Fontanel, Côtes Catalanes, Amae - £17.50
Roussanne, Vermentino, Grenache blanc. From an estate in the village of Tautavel. A pure Roussanne. Light golden in colour. Quite a rounded and textured palate with some weight but a slightly bitter note on the finish. I am not sure how successful pure Roussanne is in Roussillon.
2020 Château de la Liquière, Faugères, Cuvée Cistus - £18.50
Roussanne, Vermentino and Grenache blanc. Organic. Light colour. Lightly leesy nose and palate, with good texture and mouthfeel on the palate. Very satisfying.
2019 Château la Grave, Minervois, Tristan & Julien - £11.25
Grenache Noir and Syrah. Good colour. Lovely ripe spice on the nose. Rounded nose and palate with a balance of spice and tannin. Eminently drinkable.
2019 Mas des Brousses, Chasseur des Brousses, IGP St Guilhem le Désert - £14.25
A blend of Mourvèdre, Merlot and Syrah. Organic. Medium colour. Quite a solid nose, rounded and fruit, and a medium weight palate, with some fruit and a streak of tannin.
2019 Château de la Liquière, Faugères - £15.50
A blend of Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Unoaked, Organic.
Good colour. Quite a rounded nose and on the palate some firm peppery spice and a firm dry finish. Quite youthful.
2018 Mas d’Agamas, Terrasses du Larzac, Nostre Mesciadis - £14.95
A blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. No oak. Good colour. Quite a firm structured nose, and on the palate, tight peppery fruit, with a firm finish, typical of the Terrasses du Larzac.
2020 La Combe Saint Paul, la Clape, Grès Rouges - £12.50
Medium colour. Quite a rounded nose and on the palate medium weight body, with spice and garrigues, and some fresh tannins.
2019 Domaine du Grand Arc, Corbières, Réserve Grand Arc - £12.25
A blend of Carignan, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Organic. Deep colour. A touch of oak on the nose. Quite a firm structured palate. Satisfying depth and eight, with a fresh finish. Nicely balanced. Not an estate I am familiar with.
2020 Domaine Pégaline, Pic St Loup, Pégaline - £19.50
A blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache Noir, Organic. A new estate for me. And I have to admit that I was rather disappointed and found the wine quite green and lean, and not very charming. Maybe it was too young. So I moved on quickly.
2018 Domaine Fontanel, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel, Cistes - £18.50
Medium colour. Rounded spicy ripe nose. Lovely and rich and opulent, especially after the previous wine. Everything that Roussillon should be.
2011 Domaine Fontanel Rivesaltes Ambré - £22.50
Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris. This was my bonne bouche right at the end of the whole tasting – see my previous post – and delicious it was too. Amber colour. Rounded nutty fruit. Medium weight palate, with a satisfying of dry nutty fruit. Lovely length. AndI will say it again. Why are Vins Doux Naturels so underappreciated?
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