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Tag: Coteaux du Languedoc
The Fifth Element – Part 4
21/10/2017 21/10/2017 frankstero
A medley of reds from the Quintessential Wines tasting earlier this year:
Bodegas Mengoba Flor de Brezo by Gregory Perez Mencia 2015 (13.0%, RRP 23.95 at Quintessential Wines, Drogheda & quintessentialwines.ie)
Mencia is definitely a trendy grape at the moment, riding the light red zeitgeist. It is usually unoaked, fairly moderate in alcohol and high in acidity. But it isn't for me – usually! This is the wine that breaks that rule. In addition to Mencia it has a good proportion (40%) of Garnacha Tintorera – better known as Alicante Bouschet, a rare teinturier grape with red flesh and juice.
Despite his Spanish sounding name, Gregory Perez is a Bordelais, but he has worked in Bierzo for around fifteen years. He takes a natural, sustainable approach to his wine making with as little intervention as possible. This bottle shows how good wines in the area can be. It shows soft black (and some red) fruit, with a touch of smokiness adding interest. It's a supple and approachable wine, with fresh acidity and soft tannins.
Mas des Agrunelles Coteaux du Languedoc L'Indigène 2014 (13.0%, RRP €19.95 at Quintessential Wines, Drogheda)
Made by the team of Stéphanie Ponsot & Frédéric Porro, this is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, the indigenous grapes of the Languedoc (hence the name!) Interestingly, among the sites where grapes are selected for this cuvée the plots of Syrah face west and those of Grenache face east. I would imagine (and I'm happy to be corrected) that this is to tame the Grenache slightly (morning sun tends to have a little less heat) while letting the Syrah ripen more fully with afternoon heat.
This is a powerful, savoury wine which makes you sit up and take note. It's fiery and smoky, with black pepper, black fruit and tapenade.
Vigne Medaglini Montecucco Sangiovesi L'Addobbo 2013 (14.0%, RRP €24.95 at Quintessential Wines, Drogheda)
Montecucco Sangiovesi is one of the lesser known DOCs in Tuscany – it's not a variant of Chianti and neither is it a Super Tuscan. Based in the hills around Mount Amiata in the province of Grosseto, it is a historic region for wine, but agriculture is mixed – olives and cereals are also grown. Whereas Montecucco Rosso DOC has a minimum of 60% Sangiovesi, this DOC requires a minimum of 85% (in line with EU varietal labelling).
The Vigne Medaglini estate borders the Brunello di Montalcino which augers well. This bottling is 100% Sangiovesi and has typical varietal notes of red and black cherry, tobacco and liquorice, but softened out by the 15 to 18 months spent in a mixture of barriques and (larger) tonneaux.
Mahi Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 (14.0%, RRP €28.95 at Quintessential Wines, Drogheda & quintessentialwines.ie)
A cool climate makes Marlborough a good bet for Pinot Noir, but the first plantings didn't work out that well as they were often inferior clones and not planted in the most appropriate places. Lessons have been learned now and there is growing number of producers who are making excellent Pinot Noir.
The first word I wrote on tasting this Mahi Pinot was "woah!" (am I channelling The Drunken Cyclist? It's full of supple strawberries and fresh raspberries; despite the 14.0% abv it's not at all jammy, though it does have considerable body and power behind it – something I tend to associate more with Martinborough and Central Otago than Marlborough. Definitely one of the best Pinots from the region.
Ar.Pe.Pe. Valtellina Superiore Sassella Riserva "Rocce Rossa" 2007 (13.5%, RRP 76.95 at Quintessential Wines, Drogheda)
Ar.Pe.Pe. is one of the most famous producers in the Alpine region of Valtellina, the most northerly wine region of Lombardy. Nebbiolo is the speciality here, known locally as Chiavennasca but with the higher altitude it is often lighter than the more famous Barolo and Barberesco from Piedmont.
This was the third of three Ar.Pr.Pe. wines shown by Quintessential, and definitely a step or three above the baby brothers (not that they are exactly cheap themselves). In comparison it is lighter, more delicate, ethereal – just a finer wine altogether. It still has Nebbiolo's trademark tannin and acidity – and that's ten years after vintage – but they are a pleasant framework for the bright red cherry fruit and herbs. A stunning wine.
The Fifth Element Series:
Part 1: First selection of whites
Part 2: Second selection of whites
Part 3: Pair of funky whites
Part 4: Selection of reds
Part 5: Fizz and friends
Tagged Alicante Bouschet, Ar.Pe.Pe., Bierzo, Coteaux du Languedoc, Gregory Perez, Italy, Lombardy, Mahi, Marlborough, Mas des Agrunelles, Mencia, Mengoba, Montecucco, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Rocce Rossa, Sangiovesi, Sassella, Tuscany, Valtellina2 Comments
Frankly Wines Top 10 Reds of 2015
07/02/2016 frankstero
As I said at the beginning of my review pieces, for me 2015 was an excellent year for wine. If one region really stood out for me in 2015 it would be Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France; already well known for bulk wine and subsequently good value bottles, it has a growing reputation for excellence in the hands of dedicated producers.
Here are ten of the reds which most impressed me in the year:
10. Château de Rousselet Côtes de Bourg 2009 (€12.99, Lidl)
For about 17 years my parents lived close to La Rochelle in the Charente Maritime department – much better known for Cognac than wine. But happily it was close enough to Bordeaux that day trips were quite easy, and so at least once a summer I would head down in the car for some tasting and buying.
Heading south, the first subregions encountered are the Côtes de Blaye (now renamed) and Côtes de Bourg. Touring around with a visitors booklet I would try new vineyards every year, plus return to a chosen few of the best. Château de Rousselet was one I returned to year after year, as Francis Sou and son Emmanuel continued to gradually improve the quality of their wines. Here are a few of the older bottles I still have:
So I was surprised and delighted to see a fairly recent vintage being sold through Lidl! The 2009 vintage was outstanding in Bordeaux, and even modest areas such as the Côtes de Bourg produced some crackers – classic claret, still great for food, but also round and fruity enough to be drunk by itself. Sadly the Lidl stores close to me didn't have any stock when I visited!
9. Château Paul Mas Clos de Mures Coteaux du Languedoc 2013 (€16.99, Molloys)
Paul Mas is one of the star estates of the Languedoc. There are several different quality levels of which Château Paul Mas is around the top – "Everyday luxury". The equivalent white also featured in my Top 10 whites of 2015.
As it common in the Languedoc this is a blend, comprising 83% Syrah, 12% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre – so it's a GSM blend of sorts, though showing more black than red fruit due to the higher Syrah content. This wine was one of the surprise stars of the (as yet unpublished) DNS tastings on Syrah and Shiraz – both for the absolute quality and the value for money at €16.99.
8. Condado De Haza Crianza DO Ribero del Duero 2011 (€23, JN Wine and others)
Pesquera's sister property in a warmer part of the Ribero del Duero shares much in terms of ethos and quality but has a different sensibility – it's more fun and accessible, with an emphasis on fruit and pleasure rather than refinement. Plum, blackcurrant and black cherry are rounded off by vanilla from 18 months in American oak.
There's no doubt that Tinta Pesquera is the senior sibling but this crowd-pleaser is a lot of wine for sensible money, and is the one I would chose to drink on its own.
See this article for more details.
7. Cono Sur Single Vineyard Block 21 "Viento Mar" Pinot Noir 2012 (€19.99 from O'Brien's Wines, Mitchell & Sons, Redmonds of Ranelagh, Sweeney's of Glasnevin, Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Bradley's and O'Driscoll's of Cork)
Cono Sur do a great range of Pinot Noirs from the everyday Bicicleta up to the prestigious Ocio. This is a single vineyard release Pinot which sits roughly in the middle of the range; there are also seven other varietal single vineyard releases including Riesling, Carmenère and Syrah – I'd like to try them at some point as well!
The vineyard itself is nicknamed the Spanish for "Sea Wind", invoking the coastal breezes which help keep the temperature relatively cool in San Antonio Valley – ideal for Pinot Noir.
Luscious black and red fruits combine with a hint of vanilla – it's got lots of fruit but fresh rather than confected fruit. Amazingly drinkable, and knocks spots off Burgundy (and most other regions') Pinot at this price.
6. Domaine L'Ostal Cazes Grand Vin Minervois La Livinère 2011 (€23.49, O'Briens)
The general Minervois appellation has around 800ha planted to vines and the smaller, more prestigious, Minervois La Livinière appellation is around a quarter of that, with lower yields and a higher proportion of better-regarded grapes such as Syrah.
The JM Cazes group of Château Lynch-Bages fame first ventured outside of Bordeaux when they acquired this property in 2002. The Grand Vin composes 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 10% Grenache and 5% Mourvèdre and weighs in at 14.0%, so in weight terms it's somewhere in between northern and southern Rhône.
Although it doesn't have the stature of its more well-known stablemates, it's more accessible than most of them – especially those from Paulliac and Saint-Estèphe – and would be the one I reached for most often given the choice of all of them.
5. Alpha Zeta Amarone della Valpolicella 2011 (€35, Sweeney's of Glasnevin)
Amarone is one of the first Italian wines that people fall in love with, enjoying its big rich flavours and textures, though they come at a premium price. It's a wine that's easy to love. Sometimes it can get a bit too much, with jammy fruit and high alcohol making too much of a mouthful for a second glass.
This example from Alpha Zeta is one of the most well-balanced I've come across, and while it might still be too fruit forward for Barolo loving masochists it doesn't intimidate. Also, compared to many it is (relatively) inexpensive at €35 a bottle (many others go far north of €40).
This was the bottle I took along to a meal with fellow wine blogger friends at Dada Moroccan restaurant in Dublin. The touch of sweetness and richness turned out to be a perfect match for the lamb and apricot tagine I ordered – probably the favourite wine of the evening.
4. Uno de Mil Tempranillo & Petit Verdot (€23.95, Cases Wine Warehouse)
A pretty label and a stunning wine, which happens to be organic and biodynamic. Such is the explosion of fresh fruit and vanilla in the mouth that it instantly made me think of a blueberry muffin! Made from a blend of Tempranillo (from Rioja and Ribero del Duero) and Petit Verdot (a small part of some Bordeaux reds), it's from the less well-known region of La Mancha – but knocks spots of plenty of Rioja that I've had!
3. E.Guigal "Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph" Saint-Joseph 2005 (2009: €46, Sweeney's of Glasnevin)
Saint-Joseph has become my go-to Rhône appellation, with its lovely blackberry, black olive and sour black cherry flavours. What I hadn't appreciated was that the appellation was named after an actual vineyard, itself named after Holy Joe himself who was reputed to have lived there.
Now in the hands of famed Rhône producer Guigal, the "lieu-dit" Saint-Joseph produces both red and white wines of superlative quality. 2005 was an exceptional year in the northern Rhône (10/10 according to The Wine Society) and this wine was at its peak. It showed all the trademark Saint-Joseph notes but with a polish and complexity that stood out.
2. D'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005 (2008: €54.99 from O'Briens and independent merchants)
D'Arenberg are one of the standout producers of McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide in Australia. Led by the colourful (in several senses) Chester Osbourne, they have a wide portfolio of wines with different quality levels and varieties. The Dead Arm is one of their three Icon bottlings, along with The Coppermine Road (which I once realised I was driving on!) Cabernet Sauvignon and Ironstone Pressings Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre.
And the unusual name? From the d'Arenberg website:
Dead Arm is a vine disease caused by the fungus Eutypa Lata that randomly affects vineyards all over the world. Often affected vines are severely pruned or replanted. One half, or an 'arm' of the vine slowly becomes reduced to dead wood. That side may be lifeless and brittle, but the grapes on the other side, while low yielding, display amazing intensity
The 2005 is beautifully mature, though far from over the hill. It has the blackberry and plum fruit, pepper and spice plus vanilla notes as you'd expect from an Aussie Shiraz, but these flavours are all now interwoven and settled in; they are speaking in harmony rather than shouting individually. I just wish I'd bought more than one bottle!
1. Penfolds Bin 707 South Australia 1996 (~€115, Sweeney's of Glasnevin and other independents)
And so for the third year running my favourite wine of the year is a Penfolds red! In 2013 it was the 1998 Bin 707, then in 2014 I was lucky enough to try the Grange 2008. The former would have has a good shout again in 2015 but the bottle of 1998 I had planned to open with Christmas dinner didn't actually get opened until 2016. I did, however, open both 1996 and 1997 and it was narrowly the former which I favoured.
The biggest surprise was that although it showed signs of maturity in the brick red rim, the nose and palate still showed lots of fruit – overwhelmingly blackcurrant, of course, given that this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. There were some touches of cedar and pencil shavings that pointed to its age, but they were knitted in.
Bin 707 stands second to Grange in the Penfolds hierarchy, but for my tastes it runs it very close or even beats it sometimes!
Also check out the Frankly Wines Top 10 Whites, Top 10 Fizz and Top 10 Sweet wines of 2015.
Tagged Alpha Zeta, Amarone della Valpolicella, Bin 707, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Côtes de Bourg, Condado de Haza, Cono Sur, Corvina, Coteaux du Languedoc, Crianza, D'Arenberg, Dead Arm, L'Ostal Cazes, Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, Lynch Bages, Mclaren Vale, Merlot, Minervois La Livinière, Molinara, Mourvedre, Paul Mas, Penfolds, Pesquera, Petit Verdot, Pinto Noir, Rhone, Ribero del Duero, Rondinella, San Antonio Valley, Shiraz, South Australia, St Joseph, Syrah. Grenache, Tempranillo, Uno de Mil6 Comments
Frankly Wines Top 10 Whites of 2015
2015 has been an excellent year for wine in Dublin, especially from a personal perspective. As well as the usual trade tastings, which one can never take for granted, I have been lucky enough to be invited to several excellent wine dinners and receive samples from many new suppliers and retailers – thanks to all.
Here are ten of the white wines which made a big impression on me during the year. The order is somewhat subjective – this is wine tasting after all – and I'm sure the list would look a little different on another day.
10. Domaine de Terres Blanches Coteaux du Giennois AOC "Alchimie" 2014 (€14/€10, SuperValu)
Coteaux du Giennois Blanc Alchimie 2014
A fruit driven Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, just outside Sancerre, which is just so damned drinkable. It has some of the explosiveness of a Marlborough savvy but more restrained, so it wouldn't be out of place at the table. It's well worth the regular price but is a total steal when on offer. See more here.
9. Domaine de Maubet Côtes de Gascogne 2014 (€14.99, Honest 2 Goodness)
Domaine de Maubet Côtes de Gascogne 2014
Whites from South West France continue to impress me with their intense, but balanced, flavours from mainly indigenous grapes – and all at keen prices. This is one of the best I've ever tasted from the area. See more here.
8. Château Mas "Belluguette" Coteaux de Languedoc 2012 (€20.95, Molloys)
A premium white wine from the Languedoc, but without a silly price tag. This was one of the biggest surprises of the year – I just hadn't been expecting such an exuberant white wine from the Languedoc. The blend is: Vermentino 40%, Roussanne 30%, Grenache 20%, Viognier 10%, with each grape variety is vinified separately in oak barrels for a month. 50% of the blend goes through malolactic fermentation and it is blocked for the remainder. The final blend is then aged in 2/3 French and 1/3 American oak for 4 months.
Molloy's wine consultant Maureen O'Hara dubbed this a "Dolly Parton" wine – I'd have to say it's got a lot of front!
7. Two Paddocks Picnic Riesling, Central Otago (€19.99, Curious Wines)
Although owned by a famous actor, this estate does not make "celebrity wine". Pinot Noir is the speciality of Two Paddocks, with excellent premium and single vineyard bottlings, but they also make a small amount of Riesling, benefitting from the cool (almost cold!) climate of the southerly most wine region in the world.
"Picnic" is their more accessible, everyday range, for both Pinot and Riesling, and here we have the latter. It's just off-dry with lots of Golden Delicious apple, honey and citrus, with a fresh streak of acidity through the middle. It actually reminded me of a still version of Nyetimber's 2007 Blanc de Blanc, one of my favourite English sparklers!
6. Argyros Estate Santorini Atlantis 2013 (€15.49, Marks and Spencer)
Argyros Estate Atlantis Santorini 2013
An excellent Assyrtiko based-blend from the Greek Island of Santorini, linked to the legend of Atlantis. Old vines and steep slopes contribute to excellent intensity, with lemony flavours and floral aromas. Such a drinkable and versatile wine.
5. Soalheiro Alvarinho Reserva DOC Vinho Verde 2012 (€35.99, Black Pig, JN Wine)
Soalheiro Alvarinho Reserva 2012 (Credit: Via Viti)
Yes you read that correctly, this is a €35 Vinho Verde! However, although it shares geography and grape variety with many Vinho Verdes, it is made in a totally different style. It retains the central fresh core of Alvarinho (aka Albariño in Galicia) yet has a creamy complexity from oak and lees stirring.
In one of the first DNS tastings of 2015 this was tied neck and neck with Rafael Palacios' famous As Sortes – it's that good. See the full article on The Taste here.
4. Hugel Pinot Gris "Jubilee" 2000 (€52 in West Restaurant @ The Twelve Hotel)
Hugel Pinot Gris "Jubilee" 2000 (Credit: Hugel)
One of the highlights of 2015 was a trip away to The Twelve Hotel in Barna, just outside Galway City, to celebrate my wife's birthday. It's our favourite hotel in Ireland, and one that we choose for special occasions. Check out their full wine list here.
Hotel Restaurant wine lists can often be very dull / safe / boring, depending on your point of view, so it warms the cockles of this wino's heart to see such a well put together list. It was General Manager & Sommelier Fergus O'Halloran who first got me into Pecorino (see here), but on this occasion it was something else which was really worth writing home about.
Hugel is one of the two large and well-known family producers in Alsace, the other being Trimbach which also sports yellow labels on its bottles. Both are located in achingly pretty villages and have excellent ranges. Jubilee signifies Hugel's premium range, made from fruit in their Grand Cru Sporen and Pflostig vineyards. As a general rule I like Pinot Gris to have some sweetness to go with the distinctive apricot & honey flavours and oily texture – this doesn't disappoint! Getting a fifteen year old wine of this quality for €52 in a restaurant is amazing!
3. Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis Grand Cru "Moutonne" Monopole 2012 (€109.95, The Corkscrew)
This was the highlight of a focused burgundy tasting given upstairs at Stanley's by Ben and Barbara of WineMason. As a big fan of Chablis, especially Premier and Grand Cru, I was excited to taste the area's famous "eighth Grand Cru". There are seven Grands Crus recognised by the French national appellations organisation (INAO), though those names appear after "Appellation Chablis Grand Cru Contrôlée". La Moutonne is recognised, however, by the Chablis (UGCC) and Burgundy (BIVB) authorities.
The majority of the Moutonne vineyard (95%) is in the Grand Cru Vaudésir with a small part (5%) in Grand Cru Preuses, so you'd expect it to taste almost identical to Albert Bichot's Grand Cru Vaudésir, which is made in the same way – but it doesn't! This is put forward as a reason why Moutonne deserves its own Grand Cru status – but equally it might indicate that several Chablis Grand Crus are not homogenous across their climats. An interesting debate which needs further research – and I volunteer!
Whatever the nomenclature, it's a stunning wine – beautifully intertwining minerality, citrus, floral notes and a light toastiness from 25% oak.
2. Gulfi Carjcanti 2011 (€35 – €38, JN Wine and others)
From South east Sicily comes something unlike anything you've tasted before – at least, a single wine containing all the flavours and aromas expressed by this wine. Tasted with family member Matteo Catani, this is a truly remarkable wine – it showed anise, almond, citrus, apple, and a hint of oxidation which added interest but did not detract from the fruit.
When many producers are churning out identikit Cabernets and Chardonnays, wines that are different and interesting like this really grab the attention.
1. Craiglee Sunbury Chardonnay 2011 (€33.95, winesdirect.ie, also available by the bottle and by the glass at Ely Wine Bar)
If you read my favourite White Wines of 2013 or 2014 then the fact that my favourite white tasted in 2015 is a Chardonnay shouldn't be a surprise. I might be predictable, but it's my favourite grape so I won't apologise.
From a less well known part of Victoria, it shows butterscotch and toasty vanilla round a citrus core. It's not the most expensive wine in my listing, and probably not the "finest", but it is beautifully balanced and the one that I would most fancy opening at anytime!
Also check out the Frankly Wines Top 10 Fizz, Top 10 Sweet wines and Top 10 Reds of 2015.
Tagged Albanello, Alvarinho, Assyrtiko, Australia, Burgundy, Carricante, Central Otago, Chablis, Chardonnay, Coteaux du Languedoc, Cotes de Gascogne, Greece, Grenache, Loire, New Zealand, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Roussanne, Sam Neill, Santorni, Sauvignon Blanc, Sicily, Sunbury, Vermentino, Victoria, Viognier9 Comments
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