This is my post vacation re-visit to this treat, post vacation, where I drank almost only Malbec. Ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, stewed plums, figs, cherries, meat, pepper, leather, some oak, and some earth to it too. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, good acidity, medium body, as this wine opened the fruit became more soft, with a lot of spice, mineral, and earth, with good balance, and a descent finish. I was looking for some ribs, or some meat falling off the bone.
Category Archives: Languedoc-Roussillon
2006 Hecht & Bannier Minervois
2008 Domaine de Laballe Cotes de Gascogne
Platinum in color with some bronzing. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, minerals, lime, grapefruit, grass, perfume, slight earth, and subtle oak if any. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium acidity, limes, nectarines, flowers, nice minerally and crisp finish. This would be nice with an oily white fish.
2007 Ninet de Pena Viognier
Straw in color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, slate, lilac, dandelion, honeysuckle, frisee, endive, not oaky, with lots of earthy elements. On the palate, off-dry, medium intensity, medium+ body, medium acidity, nectarine, peach, intense floral element, mineral, with a moderate finish. I have no idea of what this costs, but my guess is this should cost $20.
NV Maison Vergnes Blanquette de Limoux “Le Berceau”
I asked the folks over at Triage to set me up with an inexpensive dry sparkling wine that would retail for around $14 to compete with the Gruet, as usual they delivered. The wine is 100% Mauzac, a local white grape used mainly for sparkling wine production, made in the Methode Traditonnelle where secondary fermentation happens in bottle. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, apple, pear, lime, acacia flower, some dried bread, and slight minerality. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, nice mousse, citrus fruit, wet stone, dried apple, some earth, not oaky, medium alcohol, medium+ acidity, nice wine with a moderate finish. I feel a taste off with sparklers of different origins coming, and I think this will show pretty well.
2005 La Sauvageonne Pica Broca Coteaux du Languedoc
Installment #2 of Triage wines I bought to drink and observe. It’s obvious Dieter has a sick palate, and I like to take advantage of that, and the fact that there are others that specialize in specific areas and my wine education is more broad than narrow. All I could find is that this is a Syrah-Grenache blend, from an amazing vintage all over the world. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, red fruit, like raspberry, cranberry, cherry, plum, red licorice, hay, dried herbs, dried chalky earth, game, leather, and some French Oak. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, similar flavor profile but add some pepper, medium tannin, medium acidity, nice balance, and good finish. Killer Southern Rhone blend outside the district that destroys some other efforts of higher value. Try this wine, if you need help finding it please contact me.
2004 Domaine Jean Gardien Les Milleres
The wine gods shined on me tonight, I got called off work, but made one text to taste some wine, and ten fell in my lap. Pretty happy with this GSM blend from the Laguedoc, Cotes du Roussillon Villages appelation. On the nose, earth driven, damp soil, but also ripe and juicy fruit. Aroma for sure, medium intensity, but complex, medicinal herbs, red licorice, woodspice, dark plums, and figs. On the palate, dry, med+ intensity, very bright and juicy fruit framed by earth, leather, and herbs. This is a bit more complex than the following Aussie Shiraz, and at a few buck less. I am happy that not everyone in the old world charges up the ass for their wines.
L’Oustal Blanc K6
I tasted this a few weeks ago, you can find it under the Carignane label. I am interested to go back and read what I have written. On the nose, aroma all the way, medium intensity, strawberry, hay, red licorice, not oaky, earthy, and a cabbage quality. On the palate, dry, ripe red fruit, juicy but very silky. Med- tannin, med acidity, and a moderate finish. This fruit driven Old World wine is as close to candy as any French wine is going to get. Molly Dooker meets a Pinot-like lightness on the palate. Very drinkable.
2005 Domaine La Bastide Douce Folie
The blend is Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, and Carignan, no idea on the percentages. Important to note that this is a Vin de Pays wine, country wine and the lowest demarcation in French wine law. This was passed to me as I am always on the look-out for the every day drinker. This is my third visit to this wine, the other two times I was significantly intoxicated, so much so I thought a review wouldn’t be prudent. Garnet in color, med- intensity. On the nose, aroma, earth driven, medium intensity. Pretty upper notes, strawberry, hay, floral element, plums, chocolate, white pepper, red licorice, a whole lot of earth, and some vanilla way in the back. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, earthy and coffee driven, with juicy fruit, med tannin, good acidity, a medium finish, and well balanced alcohol. Wines like this make me want more everyday drinkers, as this is an awfully deep tasting note for a $10 bottle. All in all, this is a wine that performs extremely well in the price range.