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NiklasW -> Languedoc: some gems in a sea of plonk (7/31/2008 12:46:49 AM)
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Maestro suggested I write something about my experiences with Languedoc wines. I’ll start off by immediately saying that I am no expert on the region, but I have a great interest in the region since I visit it once or twice a year, as my parents are living there. For the past two years I have been actively hunting down vineyards making quality wines, partly through the internet and partly based on my father’s recommendations (he is also interested in good wines).
Languedoc-Rousillon has the largest area of wine production in France, but has been infamous for producing plonk to keep the factory workers of northern France in happy inebriation during the 1800s and 1900s. Times changed and plonk is now no longer the staple diet of most people, and since the 1990s there has been an active movement to produce quality wines in the region.
My own experience has been mainly limited to the Minervois appellation, with some sorties out into the appellations of Cabardès, Limoux and Corbières. There is still much plonk being produced and much of that I guess goes to the supermarkets of Europe and perhaps US, but there are many dedicated growers out there who want to make excellent quality wines and are successful. Many of these are only just starting out now, and thus there are ample opportunities to find really good wines for a good (reasonable) price, I’m talking under 10 euros per bottle.
The Minervois AOC (as well as many other Languedoc AOCs) has syrah, Grenache, mourvedre and carignan as its varietals, much like southern Rhone. One of my absolute favourites is a wine made by Nicolas Azalbert. I believe his first vintage was 2004. I have had his 2005 Plô Notre Dame, which is simply fantastic. A very elegant wine that has aromas of apricot! Very different to most syrah blends I’ve tasted. For those who like the more fruit forward Aussie style, Chateau du Donjon is highly acclaimed. The funny thing is that these two are neighbours, yet their wines are very different.
Recently a new appellation was created within Minervois: Minervois-la-Liviniere, which strives to make really high class wines. I have had two that are good, those made by Borie de Maurel and those from Vignobles Lorgeril. Both make quite tannic wines that have potential for aging, but since both are quite recent, the actual ageability of the wines is still unknown. There are several more potentially good vineyards in this appellation that I will be visiting over the years.
The Cabardès AOC is very small and interesting since their AOC rules allow Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (as well as Syrah), so they tend to make Bordeaux-like wines. My only experience so far has been with Vignobles Lorgeril, which has been very positive.
Limoux is a white wine appellation, famous for its Blanquette. In fact the art of putting bubbles into wine is said to have originated in Limoux, with Dom Perignon taking the idea from there to Champagne. There is at least one really high quality wine maker there, Chateau Rives-Blanques, which is being showered with all kinds of medals for its range of wines. I have liked their Chenin Blanc, their Chardonnay, their Blanquette and their sweet wine.
My all time favourite Languedoc wine is Camplazens le Chateau 1998. It is really fantastic and was made on the massif of La Clape near the city of Narbonne. Unfortunately, this wine is no longer made as the owners changed in 1999, and while they still make good wine, it is quite different in character to the 1998. If you can find the wine, get it! I was overjoyed when I found I could still order it through the Swedish monopoly Systembolaget.
Here are some of the goodies I have found, and since I have had to put these wines into the CT database, I am guessing they are not really that widely available. If you stumble upon them, try them out! It would be great to see other opinions of the wines. I have placed direct links to the vineyards themselves (if they have web pages) in the wiki section of the CT wine page.
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