Wine tasting Saturday 29th 2010 – Languedoc region in France
It was a little bit of a dull day outside and I thought that it would be a good idea to bring some sunshine from the south of France on the marble table…Languedoc-Roussillon is probably the most exciting wine region in France nowadays, more and more great discoveries regularly come across my palate. This is no big surprise when we look at the key figures: 29 million hectolitres produced in 1987 and only 16 million hectolitres in 2006. The reduction is the result of considerable clearing of vines and an ambitious policy to develop wines with a better reputation. The 1980s saw the creation of appellations or the development of already existing appellations in Languedoc (granting of the AOC in 1982 for the Faugères and Saint-Chinian, in 1985 for the Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbieres and Minervois, in 2006 for Malepère). This is still the largest producer ahead of the Aquitaine region (8 million hectolitres), Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (4.5 million hL) and Rhône-Alpes (2.9 million hL).
The first wine was white: Viognier, Domaine Peirière, Paul Sapin 2006, Vin de Pays d’Oc. On the nose: Mineral with a pleasant and refreshing smell of dry peach stone, slight butter. On the palate: Well balanced with a soft feel at first and a growing acidity towards the finish. I found it a little bit restrained on the fruity side with more of an apple flavour rather than the usually found stone fruit in Viognier wines. A very simple and inviting wine.
The second wine was red: Minervois 2007, Tradition, Domaine Le Cazal, Carignan/Grenache/Syrah. On the nose: Although this wine is not aged in oak barrels, I was able to get some wood components mixed with spices and fresh grape juice. A beautiful and complex aroma. On the palate: A medium bodied wine with a lots of acidity. The fine and slightly grippy tannins appear from the start. Flavours of red cherry and raspberry with this oak feel again…Short finish. This is a food wine which I would drink with Lamb.
The last wine was organic: Mas Nicot 2006, Coteaux du Languedoc, 65% Syrah, 35% Grenache. On the nose: Aromatic, barnyard, blackcurrant jam. On the palate: A full bodied wine with lots of grippy tannins on the middle palate but they are well integrated in the concentrated juice and show more softness on the attack and finish. Chewy middle palate with black fruit flavours and some black pepper. Good finish. A big juicy boy to eat with one of our bestseller: Rib of Cotswold Longhorn Beef, Hereford Snails, Cox's Farm Asparagus, Gratin Potatoes, Cep Confit, Bone Marrow, Red Wine Sauce...
Fabrice Bouffant
Head Sommelier