Languedoc tasting

I invited friends over for a Languedoc tasting. The aim was to compare and contrast various wines I have found to be good, and that I have bought straight from the winery. The evening was a success and the range of wines we tasted generated a lot of discussion.

Started of with a bubbly from my favourite winery in Limoux. I think their Blanquette is better, but this was a nice Blanc de Blancs

• 2007 Château Rives-Blanques Crémant de Limoux Blanc de Blancs 87 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux

  Clean, crispy, not much bead, sweetness with airtime, a slight hint of yeast.

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Two Chardonnays from neighbouring wineries, the Rives-Blanques was heavier and oilier than the Begude. Both very good, but the Begude was the favourite.

• 2006 Domaine Bégude Chardonnay L'Etoile 89 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux

  Very nice, pineapple, quite a light colour, nice acidity, this was definitely the more elegant.

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• 2006 Château Rives-Blanques Chardonnay Limoux Cuvée de l'Odyssée 88 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Limoux

  Lots of tropical fruit, definitely oak coming through, a very oily wine with only some acidity, but very delicious.

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Two very different wines, one from La Clape by the sea, the other from Cabardès at the western edge of the Languedoc. The Camplazens showed very typical Syrah components.

• 2006 Château Camplazens Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape La Réserve 89 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape

  Heavy notes of mocha, dark chocolate and very strong meaty component with airtime. A power wine. Very Syrah, very good!

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• 2006 Château de Pennautier Cabardès Terroirs d'Altitude 88 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Cabardès

  A soft wine with cassis and licorice. Quite a bit of tannins to hold up the wine. Very nice!

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Wines with some age on them, the Septombres was clearly on the downslope, but was still very good. The AR 26 got a mixed reception, some thought it was really good, others could barely drink it. It certainly generated discussion!

• 2002 Château d'Oupia Minervois AR 26 90 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois

  Oh wow, what a difference to the earlier wines, diesel, blueberry, candied cherry, lots of meaty tones and tannins. Excellent!

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• 2002 Cellier de Mérinville Minervois Septombres 87 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois

  This is definitely showing tertiary components on the nose, but very distinct meaty Syrah coming through. The nose is much better than the palate, which is showing some tiredness and fading fruit. Still very enjoyable, but time to drink up. Had a plastic cork.

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The first bottle of Borie Blanche was corked, which was very educational for all. Now they know what a corked bottle smells and tastes like. The second was good, but fell in the shadow of the very wierd Hegarty. The smell of physallis was incredibly strong, this could have been some kind of strange white wine by the nose! Lots of discussion again.

• 2004 Domaine de Chamans Minervois Hegarty No.1 89 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois

  Woah, this is very interesting, really strong physallis and honeymelon on the nose! Cat's piss too. Same on the palate. Is this a red wine? Is this a Syrah? Very different, very good.

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• 2004 Domaine de la Borie Blanche Minervois-La Livinière Terroirs d'Altitude 88 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois-La Livinière

  First bottle was badly corked, fortunately this one was not. Strong tannins, lots of blackberries, very tasty, but nothing superspecial about it. Perhaps overshadowed by the Hegarty in the same flight.

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All in all a great evening! First time I have organized such a formal tasting of wines and I had fun choosing the wines for the different flights. Gotta get some standardized stemware though.