Sud de France Languedoc-Roussillon tasting October 2014

Languedoc-Roussillon Sud de France Tasting
Manchester
15 October 2014

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This was a tasting at the Midland Hotel in Manchester organised by Sud de France, which represents the combined wine offer of Languedoc-Roussillon to the trade and to consumers.

The region of Languedoc-Roussillon is the world's largest vineyard, with an ideal climate and diverse landscape. A lot of bulk and "ordinary" wine is made here, but it's also a region where a lot of work has gone on bringing in cutting edge production techniques to improve quality and (to a lesser extent) innovation. The quality of the wines was forefront at this tasting for me, and quite strikingly so. Normally at a larger tasting like this, I'll come across a few wines that are, quite frankly, shockers, that I wouldn't want to touch again with a bargepole. Now, there was nothing especially spectacular at this tasting, and indeed there was a great deal of pretty ordinary stuff, but pretty much every single bottle I'd be happy to open and drink again. It will be evident from the same-iness of the tasting notes below that the wines were, for the most part, much of a muchness, but I think that's a sign of the overall quality: lots of varietally correct, well-made wines. They might not excite wine enthusiasts and snobs, but so be it. There's lots of very good drinking here.

three glasses with Sud de France logo etched on them, one with red wine, one with white wine, one with rosé

Antech

A family-owned winery, which has specialised in making sparkling wines for six generations. All grapes used are certified Terra-Vitis and the estate has a sustainable farming policy.

NV Antech Doux et Fruité Méthode Ancestrale - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
A fairly rich, slightly raisiny, grapey nose. Really very pleasant in the mouth. A good, balanced demi-sec with fruity sweetness rather than sugary sweetness. 88/100
NV Antech Doux et Fruité Méthode Ancestrale - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
A second bottle. Fresh, slightly grapey, slightly spirity nose with hints of eau de vie de poires.
Light, very fresh, frothy, grapey. Very good. 87/100
NV Antech Brut Nature - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
90% mauzac, 5% chenin blanc, 5% chardonnay.
A nice sherbetty nose with good Mauzac character. Light on the palate, and searingly crisp and dry. 86 points
2012 Antech Réserve Brut - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
90% mauzac, 5% chenin blanc, 5% chardonnay.
Really not giving much away on the nose. Seems rather in the shadow of the Brut Nature. Lacking character. 84 points
NV Antech Cuvée Tradition Brut - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
90% Mauzac, 5% chenin blanc, 5% chardonnay
Some gentle apple notes, but overall not really giving much away on the nose. Good palate. Nicely balanced. There's a touch of creaminess on the finish and no hardness. 88 points
2012 Antech Cuvée Eugénie - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
70% chardonnay, 20% chenin blanc, 10% mauzac
Not much on the nose apart from a certain crispness - it's being served a bit too cold, though. Good palate, though, with a nice richness and weight of fruit. 89 points
2012 Antech Grande Cuvée - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
50% chardonnay, 40% chenin blanc, 10% mauzac
Not a lot on the nose, just a touch of breadiness. Good balance on the palate, with nice character and a pleasing acidity. 87 points
2012 Antech Cuvée Héritage 1860 - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
60% chardonnay, 20% chenin blanc, 10% pinot noir, 10% mauzac
Somewhat toasty nose with a blast of the air as the sea crashes onto the rocks - almost hints of anchovy or Patum Peperium. A complex and full palate. Jolly good stuff. 89 points
2012 Antech Pure Emotion - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
66% chardonnay, 20% chenin blanc, 10% mauzac, 4% pinot noir
Pretty red fruits on the nose. Rather innocuous on the palate, with a touch of hardness on the finish. 84 points
2012 Antech Cuvée Emotion - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
66% chardonnay, 20% chenin blanc, 10% mauzac, 4% pinot noir
Not much on the nose - again, it's being served very cold. On the palate there's just a hint of red fruit. Good, but far from great. 85 points

Château de l'Engarran

Chateau de l'Engarran is located on the outskirts of Montpellier and is surrounded by a sixty hectare vineyard. Two sisters, representing the fifth generation of the family making wine, are in charge of running the family estate in the heart of Saint Georges d'Orques. The estate practices a sustainable approach certified by Terra Vitis.

2013 Domaine de L'Engarran La Lionne Blanc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A bright, clean sauvignon blanc nose. Quite a big sauvignon blanc. Rather interesting. 89/100
2012 Domaine de L'Engarran La Lionne Rouge - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
56% cabernet franc, 31% syrah, 13% grenache noir
A fairly serious nose. Slightly greenish, yet subtle fruit. A lovely, caressing mouthfeel with excellent rounded characters. This would make an excellent by the glass wine in a bar or bistro. 88/100
2013 Domaine de L'Engarran Adélys - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
100% sauvignon blanc; 9 months in barrique.
Creamy, fresh peas on the nose. Very good palate. Very balanced. 89 points
2011 Château de l'Engarran, AC Coteaux du Languedoc Grès de Montpellier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Grès de Montpellier
68% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, one third of which spent 15 months in oak.
Lovely nose: gravelly, black fruit with great poise. Really lovely, archetypal Languedoc red. Easy drinking, but plenty of interest too. 90 points
2010 Château de l'Engarran Quetton Saint-Georges - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
87% syrah, 11% grenache noir, 2% mourvedre
The nose has some charming ripe, velvety syrah fruit with some herbal notes. Lovely palate. Fairly serious, and clearly designed as one of their premium cuvées, but it's also very approachable. Lovely finish. Good structure, but with the tannins starting to integrate and generally in check. 90/100

DIVA Sud

In 1999, Burgundian Bruno Lafon, having just bought the Magellan estate in Languedoc, linked up with the DIVA network and launched DIVA Sud. Besides selling the wines of the Magellan estate, DIVA Sud acts as a sort of négociant, sourcing wines from across the south of France.

2013 Racine Picpoul-de-Pinet - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet
Light, fresh, crisp, correct nose. A good, proper Picpoul. 86/100
2013 Domaine Magellan Le Grenache de Magellan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
100% Grenache blanc
A decent nose: light and fresh, with some nutty overtones. Light, fresh palate. Good depth and character. 86/100
2013 Domaine Magellan Le Fruit Defendu - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
80% cinsault; 20% syrah
A very bright, light pinky red colour.
A rather charming nose, with cherries and blackberries.
Light and fresh on the palate. Quite a pleasant character.
Very easy drinking. 86/100

Domaine de la Dourbie

Domaine de la Dourbie is a family estate covering 32 hectares at the foot of the Larzac Hills and dating back to 1781. The vineyards are farmed organically.

2013 Domaine de la Dourbie Oscar Blanc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Made from 100% Terret Bourret grapes.
A very different nose: there are scents of apples, pea, and a hint of the sort of salinity you get from sardines. Very nice palate. Excellent balance. Good light drinking but with lots of interest. 89/100
2013 Domaine de la Dourbie Oscar Rouge - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
50% carignan, 25% syrah, 25% grenache noir
An interesting nose: slightly cedar-y black fruit. Good, light palate. This has an interesting character and great drinkability. 88/100
2011 Domaine de la Dourbie Marie Nostra - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
60% sauvignon blanc, 20% chardonnay, 15% terret bourret, 5% roussanne
A most unusual nose - quite literally eyebrow-raising - with pears, cheese and a streak of richness. It isn't as unusual on the palate as it is on the nose, however. But it's a very accomplished wine. A different, interesting wine. Much more well balanced on the palate than on the nose. 90/100
2011 Domaine de la Dourbie Marie Nostra - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
50% cinsault, 50% syrah.
A bright, fresh, very attractive nose with good fruit. In the mouth, it's pretty much as it smelled - bright, fresh and fruity, but with a bit an alcoholic heft. A good wine, and remarkably refreshing for a red. 86/100
2012 Domaine de la Dourbie Mala Coste - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
Very interesting nose - fruit, almondy nuttiness and slightly spicy extraction. Full, creamy, lowish acidity. A hint of salinity. Good structure. 88/100
2012 Domaine de la Dourbie Mala Coste - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
Old vine grenache gris (90%) and roussanne (10%).
Another interesting nose. Domaine de la Dourbie certainly seems able to develop aromas in their wines to fascinate me. Lovely palate. Remarkably creamy, but without feeling at all rich. 88/100
2009 Domaine de la Dourbie Mala Coste - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
50% cinsault, 20% syrah, 20% grenache noir, 10% mourvedre
A lovely, complex nose. Excellent, rich mouthfeel. It has full, ripe fruit characters but isn't overdone. Finishes with a nice peppery spice note. 88/100

Domaine Delmas

Domaine Delmas is a family-owned estate situated in the village of Antugnac. The Haute Vallée terroir is ideal for the production of the famous sparkling wine of Limoux: the Delmas vineyards are located on gentle slopes at the foot of the Pyrenees at an altitude of around 400 metres. They converted to organic agriculture in 1986.

2011 Domaine Delmas, AC Limoux - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux
From vineyards up to 500 metres above sea level; this 100% chardonnay spends one year in oak and two years in bottle. It has quite a perfumed nose with decent minerality. On the palate it's a good, precise, buttery chardonnay. But a bit unexceptional. A wine where it really comes down to the price as to whether it stands out from the crowd. 87/100
A second bottle: Quite a rich, buttery nose, with a bit of oak evident. Good weight and roundness on the palate. A nice, open chardonnay with nice buttery chardonnay fruit. 86/100
NV Domaine Delmas Blanquette de Limoux Cuvée Tradition Brut - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
A nice, rich nose with tropical fruit and a bit of melon. Good palate. All very correct and a very good example of a Blanquette de Limoux indeed. 89/100
2009 Domaine Delmas Blanquette de Limoux Cuvée Mémoire - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Blanquette de Limoux
Brut nature; no dosage; aged in oak for 8 months. 2009 is the first vintage of this wine.
Quite an intriguing nose with creamy, typical mauzac aromas. Very good palate. A very interesting wine indeed. 92/100
2010 Domaine Delmas Crémant de Limoux Cuvée Passion - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux

Chardonnay – Chenin Blanc - Pinot Noir - Mauzac.
A lightish nose. Nice, precise, elegant palate. Quite impressive really. Plenty of character in the mouth. 89/100
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2010 Domaine Delmas Crémant de Limoux Cuvée des Sacres - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
Chardonnay – Chenin Blanc - Pinot Noir - Mauzac - first press juice with a tiny bit of oak ageing.
A nice subtle perfume and some black fruit and cherries on the nose. Rounded, even character. Lacks the elegance of the same producer's Cuvée Passion. 87/100

2008 Domaine Delmas Crémant de Limoux Cuvée Audace - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux
Mainly chardonnay with some chenin blanc and pinot noir, vinified in old barriques and then aged in oak for eight months.
This has a very pleasant nose with some buttery toastiness. Good palate, but lacks the balance and elegance of some of Delmas' other cuvées, which is a little odd, as it's the most expensive they're showing today. Overall, it feels slightly disjointed and theres a touch of hardness on the finish. 86/100
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Domaine de la Provenquière

The Château, which dates to the 15th century, has been owned by the Robert family since 1954. The vineyard covers some 155 hectares.

2013 Domaine de la Provenquière Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Very light nose. Nice palate: good weight, with creamy fruit and pleasing acidity. 88/100
2013 Domaine de la Provenquière Vermentino - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Lovely fresh, lemon zesty nose; slightly waxy with peachy tropical fruit. Light, fresh palate. Initially, it feels very simple, but builds nicely in the mouth. Very good finish and length. A bright, fresh, vibrant wine. Completely honest. Would make a good house wine. 87/100
2013 Domaine de la Provenquière Cuvée P Blanc Chardonnay-Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A pleasant, if somewhat indifferent nose. Pleasant palate. Nice fruit and some interest. Grows on you. 88/100
2013 Domaine de la Provenquière Cuvée P Blanc Sémillon-Vermentino - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A slight nose, with apparently little of interest. Rather slight and inoffensive on the palate. 85/100
2013 Domaine de la Provenquière Cuvée P Rosé - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Oddly the Cuvée P Rosé on the Provenquière website is a Cinsault-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, but the tasting sheet for this wine clearly says 100% pinot gris, and indeed the very, very pale pink colour would also suggest pinot gris. It has a simple, yet charming nose with good fruit. Pleasant and simple on the palate. 85/100
2011 Domaine de la Provenquière Cuvée Achilleus Blanc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
This 100% marsanne is aged in oak for 14 months. Only 2000 bottles were made, which I assume is why there's no mention of it on the Provenquiere website.
It has a very rich, toasty nose, in which the heavy oaking obliterates any fruit characters. A big, creamy, oaky palate. I suppose if you like that sort of thing, you'd like this. But for me, it's rather overdone. No surprise, as nine times out of ten premium cuvées from small family producers tend to disappoint. 84/100

Domaine Montrose

Domaine Montrose is another family estate: it was founded in 1701 and the current owner is a direct descendant of the original founder. Sustainable farming practices are employed producing - they say - terroir-driven wines with an elegant personality.

2013 Domaine Montrose Chardonnay - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
Light, fresh, proper nose. Very attractive palate. A nice simple chardonnay. 88/100

2012 Domaine Montrose La Balade des Lézards - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
25% rolle; 25% viognier; 25% roussanne; 25% grenache blanc. 20% of the wine is aged for four months in barrel.
It has a very attractive nose, possibly a little let down by the palate, which is decent, yet fairly straightforward. Though there is some interest and depth. 87/100
2013 Domaine Montrose Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
35% syrah; 35% merlot; 30% grenache noir.
There are light red fruits on the nose. On the palate, it's ... well ... fine. A good simple house wine in a bar, maybe. Just a touch harsh on the finish. 83/100
2012 Domaine Montrose Cabernet Syrah - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
50:50 cabernet sauvignon and syrah.
A pleasant, herby, black fruits nose. Very silky smooth on the palate. This isn't anything remarkable, but it is a highly gluggable wine with lots of juicy deliciousness. Would make a great house red in a bar/café. 86/100
2012 Domaine Montrose La Balade des Lézards - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
60% syrah; 40% cabernet sauvignon.
I can't say I find anything massively interesting about this on the nose. On the palate, however, it's a very nice wine. Easy, but not without interest. Good, interesting fruit characters. Very well made, and very enjoyable. 89/100
2013 Domaine Montrose Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
Fresh, intense peachy-nectarine nose with some peach leafiness.
Bright, fresh palate. Easy drinking. There's a fair amount of acidity verging on hardness/sharpness. 84/100

2012 Domaine Montrose Salamandre - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
A big, oaky nose. Big palate, with lots of very rich, very ripe feeling fruit. Clearly made to be impressive. But I find it deeply unimpressive. There's nothing technically wrong with it - I just find it overwrought and all bigness with no particular character or interest. 83/100

Domaine Saint Etienne

In 1988, Michel Coullomb set up his 40 hectare estate at the very south of the Côtes du Rhône appellation, a few kilometres from the Pont du Gard. The vines grow on stony soils and the climate is very windy, sundy and dry.

2012 Domaine Saint Etienne Les Albizzias - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
60% grenache blanc; 10% clairette; 10% roussanne; 10% marsanne
Slightly peachy white flowers on the nose, but with a little suggestion of confection. Fresh, gently buttery palate. A good, straightforward white Côtes du Rhône, though nothing exceptional. 84/100
2013 Domaine Saint Etienne Les Galets - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages
70% grenache noir; 30% syrah
Quite straightforward on the nose. Good palate. All correct. Easy drinking. 85/100
2010 Domaine Saint Etienne Les Molières - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages
Grenache-syrah-mourvèdre
Quite an interesting nose. There's oak there for sure, but something else too, with some good fruit characters showing through. But again it's nothing startling. Very solid, very drinkable, enjoyable, honest wine. 87/100
2013 Domaine Saint Etienne Les Albizzias - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
60% grenache noir, 30% syrah, 10% carignan
Good nose with sweet red and black fruit. Very pleasant, attractive palate. Structure builds in the mouth towards a finish with grippy tannins. 87/100
2013 Domaine Saint Etienne Perserose - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays du Gard
70% grenache noir; 20% syrah; 10% carignan noir. 14% abv
A slightly curious nose. Quite peppery, ripe berry fruit.
Bright, easy drinking. Somewhat sub-Rhône/Rhône-lite. Nice balance. Very easy drinking. 87/100

2011 Domaine Saint Etienne Cocagne - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
70% grenache; 30% syrah. The bottle screams "Premium Cuvée" loudly!
A bit of a weird nose: very vegetal with - bizarrely - green pea hints. Almost slight on the palate initially, but it builds enormously in the mouth towards a big, grippy finish. 85-87? 85/100

La Cave

La Cave is a négociant based in Béziers in the Languedoc.

2013 La Cave Picpoul-de-Pinet Grain Marin - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet
Very good, minerally crisp fruit on the nose with some green vegetable aromas and a noticeable salinity. Light, fresh, clean, almost flinty. Nothing complex going on here. Just a simple, quaffable Picpoul. A crisp shellfish-ready wine. 84/100
2013 La Cave Chardonnay Terroir d'Antan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A simple, pleasant nose. Simple and very pleasant on the palate. Pretty much does what it says on the tin. 86/100
2013 La Cave Sauvignon Terroir d'Antan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A light, fresh, gentle sauvignon nose. Good, open, correct palate. Nicely made, if a bit unexceptional. 85/100

Laurent Miquel

The Miquel family acquired Cazal Viel in 1791: the current incumbent is 8th generation winemaker, Laurent Miquel, who originally studied at Leeds University and worked in the automotive industry in England! He quickly saw the error of his ways, however, and enrolled at l’Ecole d’Agronomie de Montpellier to study oenology: his first vintage at Cazal Vieil was in 1996.

2012 Château Cazal Viel Vieilles Vignes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian
Mainly syrah, with some grenache and mourvèdre.
Intense black fruit nose. Full on the palate, but not heavy. Very nice balance. Very drinkable and enjoyable. 88/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Chardonnay Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Clean, fresh nose. Very pleasant palate. Good balance. Fresh, with some depth too. 86/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Cinsault Syrah - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
70% cinsault - 30% syrah
A pleasant simple nose.
A pleasant simple palate.
Very little else to say: simple and pleasant. No downsides. 84/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Syrah Grenache - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A very attractive nose: black fruit, leather and a bit of chocolate richness. Good palate. Not earth-shattering, but a good wine. Very grippy tannins indeed on the finish. 87/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Cabernet Syrah - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
More intense black fruits, including some clear blackcurrants, on the nose than with the Père et Fils Syrah-Grenache. It feels a touch closed. Silky, flowing palate: easy and enjoyable with very characterful fruit. 88/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Syrah Nord Sud - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Meaty, slightly cheesy-sweaty black fruits on the nose.
Silky palate. This is a nice, precise, fresh, basic syrah. Quite mouthcoating and has great length. 87/100

2013 Laurent Miquel Viognier Nord Sud - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A rather slight nose with a bit of minerality. Decent palate with fair depth and interest. 86/100
2012 Laurent Miquel Chardonnay L'Artisan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Good buttery nose with some melon fruit. The palate is much richer than I expected. This is pretty decent stuff, though of course much depends on whatever the retail price might be. 87/100
2011 Laurent Miquel L'Artisan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
On the nose there are rich, bright black fruits with a hint of stink and horse sweat. A lovely texture in the mouth. Very easy and approachable, with some interest. Lovely stuff. 89/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Vérité Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Part fermented and matured in oak, this has a very interesting nose: note the simple Languedoc viognier you might expect, and feeling more Condrieu-like, with some smokiness behind the viognier fruit. Very elegant and silky on the palate. Carries the oak very well. Pretty impressive. 89/100
2013 Laurent Miquel Saint-Chinian Bardou - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian
There is some oak immediately on the nose masking big black fruit. A good, easy palate. The oak is much less obvious on the palate than the nose, but there are some mightily grippy tannins on the finish. 87/100

Les Domaines Auriol

Les Domaines Auriol is a family company based in Lezignan-Corbières. It is known particularly for its organic wines.

2013 Les Domaines Auriol Belles du Sud Marsanne Roussanne - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A pleasant if unexceptional nose. Decent, clean wine. All correct. Not a lot of interest. 84/100

2013 Les Domaines Auriol Belles du Sud Syrah Grenache - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A blend of Syrah and Grenache Blanc.
Medium pink colour.
Creamy red fruit, especially strawberries on the nose.
A nice, round, clean, easy drinking rosé. 86/100
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2013 Les Domaines Auriol Carignan Le Jour et la Nuit - Carignan 50 ans d'âge - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de L'Aude
Young, purple. A rather slight nose. Pretty simple, unchallenging palate. Nothing wrong with it. 84/100
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2013 Maison Vialade Gewurztraminer - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
93% gewurztraminer; 7% sauvignon blanc
A very light, fresh nose. On the palate, this is a very crisp, light, fresh gewurztraminer. Very different in style to Alsace, Italy etc., and very attractive for it. Interesting, with some merit. 89/100
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2013 Maison Vialade Marselan - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Bright, fresh red fruits on the nose. Light, clean, easy drinking but has a nice character and some interest. 88/100
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2013 Maison Vialade Pinot Noir - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Apparently a blend of pinot noir from the Limoux and Minervois, according to the pourer.
It has an undistinguished pinot nose, and an undistiguished pinot palate. Blind, you'd probably be pushed to guess it was pinot noir.
Yet further evidence of the flawed gene that winemakers have that makes them want to produce pinot noir in regions to which it's not suited. 83/100
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2013 Claude Vialade Le Carla Special Reserve Colombard Sauvignon - France, Southwest France, Gascony, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne
Pleasant nose with some citrussy notes. Fresh on the palate, quite full with some aromatics. Not without interest. 86/100
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2013 Les Domaines Auriol Chardonnay Montmija La Chapelle - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Montmija is their own organic vineyard. A rather slight nose. Good palate. Perfectly acceptable, but a bit ordinary. 84/100
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2012 Domaine La Croix d'Aline Saint-Chinian - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian
70% syrah, 30% grenache.
Quite intense, meaty black fruits on the nose. An interesting palate. Richly textured and characterful. 88/100
2010 Les Domaines Auriol Corbières Intense - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières
Meaty, intense by name, intense by nature. Deep, black fruits. Rich, very bitter-chocolate notes on the nose.
Big, open black fruit on the palate, slightly dried. This works very well. Not an elegant wine, but very honest. 86/100

Les Grands Chais de France

The Grands Chais de France is a family group founded in 1979. GCF owns more than thirty domaines and châteaux.

2013 Domaine de Tholomies La Chapelle Chardonnay-Viognier - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
An unexceptional nose with some grassy notes maybe. Decent palate. Simple & straightforward. Fresh and a hint of zestiness. But overall it feels a bit separate, lacking integration. 82/100
2013 Domaine l'Oustalnau Corbières - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières
60% grenache blanc; 40% vermentino.
Pleasant on the nose. Pleasant on the palate. Perfectly decent wine, but unexceptional. 83/100

2013 Château Saint-Roch Blanc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux
85% chardonnay; 15% chenin blanc
A clean fresh nose. Good palate. A simple wine, though with a slightly murky musky feel. A bit hard after. 82/100

2013 Domaine de La Baume Viognier Elisabeth - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Quite a simple nose. Simple, uncomplicated drinking. Fresh, light and clean. 84/100
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2012 Domaine Roumanis Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois Petit Grains - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois
A light, clean nose with a pleasant muscat character and a little minerality, maybe a bit of a confected, air-freshener note. Not at all oversweet, and there's also a fair acidity. A good simple muscat vin doux, but very much on the simple side. 83/100
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Sud Tendances Diffusion

Sud Tendances Diffusion is the export sales office for a dozen Languedoc producers.

2012 Domaine de Castelnau La Croix Blanc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
60% chardonnay; 30% viognier; 5% ugni blanc; 5% colombard
Very oaky nose, which I'm really struggling to get past. Good creamy palate. Very integrated and rich. 87/100

2013 Domaine de Castelnau Chardonnay Les Ronces - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A good, simple, correct chardonnay nose. Good depth and balance on the palate. Very attractive. 88/100
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2013 Domaine de Castelnau Viognier L'Ile - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
An attractive waxy, zingy nose with good perfume. Light and very fresh on the palate. Good layers of flavour and depth. Very attractive. 89/100
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2013 Domaine de Castelnau Picpoul-de-Pinet - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul-de-Pinet
A bright, fresh, crisp nose with some green fruit. Lovely palate. Simple and crisp, but delicious. 88/100
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2012 Domaine de Castelnau Pinot Noir Les Mûriers - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Bright, vibrant, slightly stinky rasberry fruit with some earthiness. A light, fresh pinot noir. Would make a good restaurant pinot noir. 86/100
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2013 Domaine de Castelnau Syrah Cayenne - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Meaty, sweaty, yet markedly youthful black fruit on the nose. A lightly-textured, easy drinking syrah with good character. Fresh and fruity with some herbal notes. This has good balance, and a long, smooth finish with notable length. 88/100
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2013 Domaine de Médeilhan Blanc- France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
80% chardonnay: 20% viognier, 12.5% abv.
A bright, attractive nose. Fresh, bright palate. A simple wine. But a nice wine. 87/100
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2013 Domaine de Médeilhan Rouge - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A blend of merlot and petit verdot.
A charming nose, with some almost strawberry fruit.
Very attractive palate. Unchallenging and straightforward. Deliciously easy. 88/100
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2013 Domaine de Pouzac Cuvée Mariage - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah.
A sweet, slightly confected red fruit nose
In the mouth, a lovely silky texture. Very easy drinking and deliciously juicy with it.
This wine wouldn't understand complexity if you showed it the dictionary definition. 88/100
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2013 Domaine de Pouzac Cuvée Roucaniole - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue
A blend of merlot, grenache noir, and a grape that's new to me, chenanson, which is apparently a cross of grenache and jurancon.
Less giving on the nose than the same producer's Cuvée Mariage. Some raspberry fruit. Good, easy drinking, but (despite the unfamiliar grape) without the interest of Pouzac's Mariage. 85/100
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2011 Domaine des Terres Falmet Saint-Chinian Vieilles Vignes Réserve - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian
A blend of mourvèdre, grenache noir, syrah and carignan. From the south of the Saint Chinian appellation.
There's a slightly confected feel to the nose, but also some stony minerality. Very silky, fresh flavours and textures in the mouth. Lovely peppery spice on the finish. 88/100

2011 Domaine des Terres Falmet L’Ivresse des Cimes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Saint-Chinian
40% mourvedre; 40% grenache noir; 20% syrah. 13.5% abv
Restrained black fruit on the nose, with some green - celery? - notes and loads of mint. Very good palate. Restrained and elegant. 89/100
A second bottle: Spicy, herbal black fruits, with quite a meaty feel on the nose. Very pleasant palate. Rich, full, and really quite elegant. 89/100

Vignerons Propriétés Associés

As the name suggests, a grouping of winemakers from the Rhône Valley and the Languedoc, producing around 3 million bottles a year.

2013 Côtes du Rhône Les Arceaux blanc - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Attractive white Rhône nose, if rather light. Good palate. Nice weight and freshness. Good length. 86/100
2013 Sauvignon Blanc Sélection Calvisson - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A very slight nose. Light, simple, pleasant and inoffensive. Nothing wrong it with. Better than a glass of water. 82/100
2013 Chardonnay Sélection Calvisson - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A nice, fresh, fruity chardonnay nose. Not a great deal going on on the palate. Perfectly fine; nothing whatsoever wrong with it. Simple thirst quencher. 83/100
2013 Viognier Sélection Calvisson - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Correct, straightforward viognier nose. Nice, pleasant palate. Good character. 84/100
2013 Syrah Rosé Sélection Calvisson - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Medium pink. Very slight nose. Very slight palate. A touch hard. 82/100
2013 Vignerons de Calvisson Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc Sélection Calvisson - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A very young, very attractive colour.
Lovely nose: slightly leafy, black fruit.
Lovely texture - almost a chocolate-tannin feel. Not a bad wine at all. 87/100

Vignobles et Vins de Blanville

Château Haut-Blanville is a family-owned estate created by Bernard and Béatrice Nivollet. The Haut-Blanville winery backs on to the 18th century Château of Rieutort, at Saint-Parquoire, near the historical medieval town of Pézenas. The estate covers 65 hectares, of which 47 hectares are under vines.

2013 Domaine du Clos des Charmes Nymphea - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc
A blend of chardonnay and viognier with a bit of grenache blanc.
Attractive nose with some interest. Pleasant enough. 83/100
2013 Château Haut-Blanville Blanc Domaine - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vins de Pays de la Vicomté d'Aumelas
40% chardonnay; 40% sauvignon blanc; 10% viognier; 10% grenache blanc
Nice, subtle perfume and fruit on the nose.
Pleasant, if markedly subtle. 83/100

2011 Château Haut-Blanville Peyrals - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc
There's some oak on the nose. Stoney, herbaceous black fruit.
In the mouth, it's a lovely, rounded, velvety wine. Really nicely textured and integrated. Full, with very gently stewed black fruits. Very tasty and savoury. 88/100

D.A.D. Languedoc Wines

D.A.D. was founded in 1991 and is the export sales office for a limited number of medium and large sized growers and cooperatives in Languedoc-Roussillon, the Rhône and Provence.

2012 Domaine de la Salade de Saint Henri Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Château Aérien - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup
Quite an interesting nose - roasted, herbal, slightly medicinal.
Remarkably pleasant palate. There's a fair degree of complexity and interest. 88/100

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andrew@andrewstevenson.com

Last updated: 3 May 2015