Domaine Vaquer and Domaine Vial-Magnères

The extensive tasting of wines from Roussillon provided a great opportunity for an update, with some old favourites as well as I new discoveries.   I picked out some new discoveries in my previous blog, but now I want to enthuse about two of my favourite Roussillon estates.

First Domaine Vaquer with Frédérique Vaquer.  She makes a lovely range of wines in the village of Tresserre which is part of les Aspres.  Escapade, Côtes Catalanes is a blend of both Muscats, d’Alexandrie and petits grains, with some Macabeu, which softens the impact of the Muscats.

Esquisse, Côtes du Roussillon  is an intriguing blend of Roussanne, Macabeu, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris with some ageing sur lies. It is fresh and herbal with nuances galore.

L’Ephemère, Côtes du Roussillon Rosé is a blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.  It is a rosé with an attitude, orange pink in colour with some dry raspberry fruit and some rounded vinosity on the palate.  However the alcohol is only a modest 13%.

Cuvée Bernard,  Côtes du Roussillon, named after Frédérique's husband, who died far too young, has elegant dry spice and balance, with 13%, while the pure Carignan  L'Expression Côtes Catalanes was ripe at 12.7%.  This is virtually unheard of in Roussillon, but the wine had some lovely fresh red fruit, and an elegant finish.

L’Exception, Côtes du Roussillon les Aspres is a classic, a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah,  with spice and a streak of tannin, and youthful potential.

  

2020 Cuvée 30 ans, Les Aspres celebrates Frédérique’s 30th harvest, a blend of equal parts of Grenache and Syrah with 10% Carignan.  And then there were delicious vins doux that l saved for a bonne bouche at the end of the tasting, with a separate post.

www.domaine-vaquer.com

Olivier Saperas was pouring his wines from Domaine Vial-Magnères in Banyuls.  

Le Petit Couscouril Blanc is based on Grenache Blanc with a splash of Vermentino, with some pithy fruit.  

Le Petit Couscouril Rosé, from Grenache Noir with a little Carignan, has fresh raspberry fruit with some balancing acidity.

2020 Armenn, Collioure is based on Grenache Gris with some Grenache Blanc and an enigmatic 5% of other varieties, with floral notes and a pithy finish.

Le Petit Couscouril Rouge, Collioure  is a blend of 60% Grenache, with 40% Syrah.  It is dry and spicy with a youthful tannic streak.

Esperades, Collioure, a Grenache and Syrah blend with some Carignan, was nicely balanced with rounded spice and fruit, and a fresh finish. 14.5% and ripe without being heavy.

And Olivier's vins doux will be in my next post.  

www.vialmagneres.fr