Southern French
Wine production of southern France is increasingly dominated by the growing number of outstanding estates in the Languedoc and Roussillon - a region, roughly speaking, between Montpellier in the east and Perpignan in the west. Rugged and sunbaked, the Languedoc is a fascinating part of France - the religious conflicts fought to supress the Cathar heresy in the 12th and 13th centuries have left their legacy in many local landmarks - the great fortified city of Carcassonne for example, the many smaller towns and villages contained within their medieval walls, and great fortified abbeys such as Sainte Marie de Lagrasse, in the Corbières. The two estates with which we work most closely lie north of Béziers and illustrate what is possible from this extraordiary region.
Red
Domaine Belles Courbes
The wines of this estate in St Chinian were brought to our attention by an Oxford don, wine steward of his college, who discovered that Jean-Benoît Pelletier, father of one of his post-graduate students, made these delicious wines. There are 10 hectares of vines in the rugged and sunbaked country north of Béziers in the foothills of the Massif Central. The domaine has a most informative website which can be found at http://domainebellescourbes.hautetfort.com/accueil/
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2009 St Chinian Rouge Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Belles Courbes x 62011-20146 Bottles£36.50£58.50
- A blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah & Carignan (20% each). Dark ruby red colour. Concentrated and ripe on the palate, bursting with plump dark fruit flavours. Supple tannins and lovely balance. Very versatile current drinking.
Domaine de Canteperdrix
When German-Swiss architect Hans-Peter Wyss retired from his practice in Zurich in 1989, he and his wife Verena bought this 34 hectare estate outside the village of Gabian, west of Montpelier. Verena decided to try her hand at making wine from the few vines that were planted on the estate. What began almost as a hobby has grown into a very fine operation, now with 14 hectares of vineyards, and a fabulous winery designed by Hans-Peter. Verena’s personal commitment to her wines is quite extraordinary.
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2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Belcanto, Domaine de Canteperdrix, Vin de Pays de Cassan x 62009-20156 Bottles£58.00£84.00
- Beautiful aromas of ripe blackcurrant, black cherry and wild herbs – this has a wonderfully seductive sun-ripened perfume. Then lots of superb cool fruits on the palate – creamy cassis and wonderful mint, eucalypt and mineral complexity – this could only be Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is wonderfully succulent, ripe and textured and there is none of the austerity which is so often found in less expensive Cabernets. Really well structured, this is wonderfully balanced and long. Beautifully made in quite a grown up style.
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2007 Merlot Chant de la Terre, Canteperdrix, Domaine Verena Wyss, Vin de Pays de Cassan x 62010-20166 Bottles£65.50£93.00
- Very dark ruby colour. Intense ripe red fruit aromas with really profound Merlot personality. Complex, succulent, ripe and balanced on the palate, with lovely juicy ripe tannins and great length. A really fabulous wine of considerable class.
Château de Cazeneuve
The 9th century buildings of the Château de Cazeneuve lie at the heart of this 35 hectare estate in the Pic St Loup, about 20km due north of Montpelier. André Leenhardt took the estate over in 1987 and began a systematic programme of restauration in the vineyards, cuverie (finished in 1991) and cellars. Since then he has built a reputation for producing among the best wines of the appellation.
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2006 Le Roc des Mates, Château de Cazeneuve, Pic St Loup2009-201512 Bottles£188.50£255.00
- A blend of Syrah (75%), Grenache and Mourvèdre. Very dark ruby colour. Fabulous peppery aromas. Succulent and textured on the palate with silky soft tannins and long, fruit driven finish.
White
Domaine de Canteperdrix
When German-Swiss architect Hans-Peter Wyss retired from his practice in Zurich in 1989, he and his wife Verena bought this 34 hectare estate outside the village of Gabian, west of Montpelier. Verena decided to try her hand at making wine from the few vines that were planted on the estate. What began almost as a hobby has grown into a very fine operation, now with 14 hectares of vineyards, and a fabulous winery designed by Hans-Peter. Verena’s personal commitment to her wines is quite extraordinary.
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2011 Viognier Tradition, Canteperdrix, Domaine Verena Wyss, Vin de Pays d'Oc x 62013-20176 Bottles£57.00£82.80
- Pale straw gold colour. Intensely aromatic - typical of Viognier picked when ripe but not over-ripe. Fresh and lively on the palate with marvellous complexity and a honeyed smoothness from the barrel ageing. The winemaking here is outstanding, and the wine correspondingly punching a long way above its weight.
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