TWC does the South of France
South Tulsa
Tasted Saturday, June 13, 2009 by mdstenner with 965 views
Introduction
A tasting of twelve wines based on grape composition...
Flight 1 - Carignan (40% and more) (4 Notes)
Amazing values, and a reminder not to underestimate why blending is so important. These Carignan wines, all basically, 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache and Syrah, shows the harmony of blending. The deep color, tannin, high acidity of the Carignan, the meatiness, earthiness and rich flavor of the Grenache, and the spiciness, richness, structure, color and tannin of the Syrah.
Flight 2 - Grenache (70% plus) (2 Notes)
Massive Grenache wines, these wines typify the modern style. Wines of incredible complexity and style.
Flight 3 - 50% or more Syrah and Cabernet (3 Notes)
Almost mono-varietal, these show the great potential of Cabernet and Syrah in the Languedoc and Costières-de-Nîmes.
Flight 4 - Benchmark Wines of the South (3 Notes)
Three superlative wines that show the pedigree and age-worthiness of the South!
Closing
A superb selections of wines, sometimes it is good when you have a fairly uneducated wine town. There are some aged bargains on the shelves. Not only does it show the quality and age-ability of these wines, it also shows their extreme value. If some of these wines hailed from places like Napa, or highly renowned US-Rhone producers like Alban, they would fetch prices at three times the price!
2006 Domaine de la Petite Cassagne Costières-de-Nîmes 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes
Dark ruby, with a brooding dark nose of black raspberry, kirsch, and licorice. Still very tannic and closed, this could have done with decanting, but was surprisingly fruity, full-bodied, with lots of black raspberry, kirsch, and rich licorice wrapped around the tannic core. A very solid value.
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2005 Domaine de la Petite Cassagne Costières-de-Nîmes 91 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes
An amazing nose, such complexity, with dried herbs, black cherries, expresso, dark chocolate, and black raspberry. The palate is even mores satisfying, with great acidity and minerality, and flavors of acacia flowers, dried herbs, and copious fruit. Full-bodied, this is a sensational value.
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2005 Domaine Sainte-Eugénie Corbières 85 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières
Medium red, the color very much reflects the aromas and flavors of the wine. This has a little animal/gaminess at first, but it blows off to reveal some spiciness in the bright red berries on show. The palate is the same, with lovely pure fruit, some tannin, and good balanced. It's nicely done, with good acidity, but nothing special. A decent Corbières, but nothing showy or special. Certainly better QPRs around.
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2004 Domaine de Chamans Minervois Hegarty No. 3 92 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois
Dark ruby color, with an intense and incredibly ripe nose of dried flowers, red currants, raspberry, kirsch, and licorice. The flavors in the moth are intense, with flavors of crushed herbs, licorice, spice, blaqck raspberry, dark chocolate, and a really delicious finish. Very much in the modern style of Minervois, with obvious clean winemaking techniques. Bravo!
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