Languedoc tasting Experience le Sud Part III On Trade wines
NV Crémant de Limoux, Domaine Mouscaillo - Taste Union A blend of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Chenin Blanc. Elegant and fresh. Perfect bubbles.
2019 Le Pal, Grenache Gris, Pays de l'Hérault - Boulevard Napoléon. Liberty Wines. Pure Grenache Gris. Lightly rounded, nicely textured with some weight and depth. Very satisfying.
2023 Picpoul de Pinet. La Croix Gratiot - Cambridge Wine
One of my favourite Picpoul. Lightly salty with firm fruit. And a fresh finish.
2021 La Clape Blanc. Sarrat de Goundy - Taste Union
A blend of 70% Bourboulenc, with 20% Roussanne and 5% each of Grenache Blanc and Maccabeu. Bourboulenc is the grape variety of la Clape and it is very unusual to find Maccabeu in the Languedoc. A firm, structured palate, with good depth and textured mouthfeel and a fresh finish. Lots of nuances.
2023 Clos du Gravillas, Minervois. L'Inattendu. Mainly Grenache Gris. Les Caves de Pyrène. A lovely wine from one of my favourite Minervois producers. Firm fruit on the nose with a rounded palate. Nicely textured and satisfying.
2019 Domaine de Chamans, les Nonnes, Minervois. Wanderlust Wines A blend of 40% each of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne with 20% Clairette. Rounded nose and palate. Textured with weight and depth.
Next came some Côtes Catalanes First Llum Catalan Blanc, Le Roc des Anges - Caves de Pyrène. A blend of Grenache Gris, Maccabeu and Grenache blanc. Firm tight knit, with stony salty fruit. A modest 12.5%
2023 Domaine des Soulanes Vieilles Vignes - Cambridge Wines Grenache Gris and Carignan Gris. Delicious. Firm and salty with youthful fruit and satsifying weight.
2023 Kaya Blanc Domaine des Soulanes. Grenache Gris and Blanc with Carignan Blanc and Gris. Tight knit structured palate with some weight and firm fruit. Again Cambridge Wines
2023 Terres Falmet. Cuvée Sibylline St Chinian Rosé - Cambridge Wine
Unusually, a pure Mourvèdre. Light colour, with light fresh fruit and a rounded palate with some weight.
2019 Corbieres Rosé, Domaine Sainte Croix, Rosace des Vents -Taste Union Pure Carignan Noir, which is unusual for a rosé. And consequently quite a structured rosé with some firm fruit.
2022 Mas Gabriel Les Trois Terrasses, Pays de l'Hérault -Vinceremos A blend of 80% Carignan Noir, and 10% each of Syrah and Grenache. I have always enjoyed this wine and this bottle was no exception, with some ripe spice, nicely balanced with a streak of tannin.
2019 Les Chemins de Carabote, Pays de l'Hérault - Wine Story
Pure Carignan. Deep colour. Fire strutted palate. Tight tannins. Some oak and plenty of youthful potential.
And further down the line I found another wine from the same estate, La Croisée des Chemins, Terrasses du Larzac, with 60% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah with 10% Carignan. Elegant fresh red fruit on the nose and palate with an appealing lift on the finish.
There were two wines from Domaine Roquemale - imported g y Hallgarten - an AOP Languedoc and a a very appealing Grés de Montpellier which got my vote of the two. 80% Syrah with 10% each of Cinsault and Grenache Noir. Some lovely supple red fruit, balanced with a streak of tannin. 13.5% and quite a refreshing style of wine.
Pic St Loup was represented by Domaine de l'Hortus, for which see an earlier blog, and also 2019 Bergerie du Capucin, Dame Jeanne, with 70% Syrah, and 15% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Again Hallgarten Wines. Very elegant, with rounded black fruit on the palate. Nicely balanced.
There were two Faugères:
2021 le Portail, Domaine des Trinités. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan, - Cambridge Wines
Lovely ripe spice with satisfying mouthfeel and a fresh finish.
2020 Mas Gabinèle 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah 20% Carignan with 10% Mourvèdre. - Hallgarten Wines
Contrasts with Domaine des Trinité's in being more redolent of ripe black fruit. Study rich and youthful. Rounded palate with sturdy tannins.
The Minervois was largely represented by Domaine de Chamans, as well as Château d'Agel and Château Maris. If I had to choose one of the wines, my choice would be Domaine de Chamans Open Now Red, a blend of 50% Mourvèdre with 50% Syrah. Rounded spicy red fruit. Some structure balanced with ripe fleshy fruit. Very appealing. Wanderlust Wines. But the others did not disappoint either.
For Corbières, it was back to Domaine Sainte Croix, with a blend of 41% Syrah, 29% Grenache Noir and 30% Carignan - Taste Union. Very appealing spicy peppery fruit. Quite a rounded palate with lots of nuances. A delicious glass of wine - even though I was flagging at wine no 272 in the tasting booklet!
I also enjoyed Famille Fabre's Lux de Luc Sans Sulphites 2022 Corbières - Ellis Wines. A blend of 80% Carignan and 20% Mourvèdre. Very appealing fresh red fruit. See my earlier post about the Famille Fabre.
Fitou was represented by a pair of wines from Domaine de la Rochelierre, - Hallgarten Wines. I liked them both.
2021 Fitou Privilège was a blend of 30% each of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. Good colour. Fresh spice on both nose and palate, and surprisingly elegant for Fitou!
2019 Noblesse du Temps was more full-bodied, with some solid ripe spice and weight and nuances. 50% Mourvèdre with 30% Carignan and 20% Grenache
And now into Roussillon for 2022 Le Roc des Anges, Segna de Cor Rouge. A blend of 50% Grenache, with 30% Carignan and 20% Syrah, with elegant red fruit on the nose and palate. Very stylish. Les Caves de Pyrène
2022 La Truffière Domaine Danjou-Banessy, Côtes Catalanes -Cambridge Wines. A blend of Grenache Noir, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Light red in colour, Fresh red fruit and very elegant and understated.
Bruno Duchêne, La Luna, Côte Vermeille - Les Caves de Pyrène
Bruno Duchene is known for his originality. This is a blend of Grenache Noir, Blanc and Gris with 10% Carignan. Quite light in colour. And on the palate combining fresh acidity with spicy fruit. Very refreshing.
2014 Côtes du Roussillon, Georges, from Puig Parahy - Cambridge Wines. A blend of Carignan, Grenache and Mourvèdre. This ten year old wine caught my eye. Nicely maturing nose and palate, with some tannin and mature leathery notes and underlying fruit.
And the tasting finished with 2021 Maury Grenat from Domaine Lafage - Bibendum. Pure Grenache Noir. Young colour. Ripe spice and red fruit with an alcoholic bite.
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