LANGUEDOC : LA SELECTION

Château Grand-Caumont is one of the more vast domains of Corbières with 100 ha of vines on grounds argilo-limestones in terraces and very filter low register grounds (type of vines Syrah, Grenache and Carignan of more than 50 years). There existed already at the time Roman and had been baptized Villa Manzanetto. Remarkable red Corbières Impatience 2005 (55% Carignan black, 40% Syrah and 5% Grenache black, maturing out of barrels for 12 months for 40% of the assembly), which received two gold medals, one with the competition of the Great wines of Mâcon, and the other with that of Vignerons Indépendants. A coloured, powerful and fullbodied wine, with rich but quite molten tannins, the nose prevailed by the black small fruits compotes, with the scents of leather and quite characteristic ripe blackcurrants, excellent evolution. At its sides, red Corbières Réserve de Laurence 2004, gold medal with independent Competitions of Vignerons, the subtle nose prevailed by the ripe red small fruits, slightly peppered, all in harmony, of very nice mouth, with firm and silky tannins at the same time, of cordial mouth, guard also. Red Corbières Château Caumont Saint-Paul 2005 is typified as we like them, of full mouth, with the nose of crystallized cherry and humus, associating powerfull and smoothness, a wine of a beautiful garnet-red crimson color, harmonious, quite robust, of excellent guard.

Winegrowing of 30 ha. Remarkable Corbières red 2007, silver medal with the Competition of the wines of Corbières, beautiful garnet-red steady and intense color, with the subtle and major notes of humus and overripe black small fruits, dense and generous, full and solid, rich of structure, really succeeded. 2006, gold medal with the competition of Vins de Corbières, very fullbodied, well typified as we like them, fleshy, very scented (morello cherry spices), a powerful wine, with dense and structured tannins, very structured in mouth, very well-balanced, of slow evolution. Beautiful 2005, of beautiful color, with the notes of cherry and undergrowth, with rich and silky tannins at the same time, a powerful wine at strong potential. 2004 are quite fleshy, with full tannins, the nose prevailed by the red small fruits with core, a coloured wine, with these notes of cherry and humus to the palate, of very good evolution. Superb 2003, bronze medal with Mâcon, of robe intense, powerful crimson in mouth, with firm and quite well-balanced tannins, with these persistent notes of smoked, blackcurrant and spices. Excellent Corbières white 2008, a sure value, a harmonious wine, with the connotations of white flowers and toast, quite traditional, of delicate robe, which combines nervousness and roundness, very made a success of like the rosy one, with the fruity concentrate, with nuances of peach and small dried fruits finally, a wine of brilliant robe.

Vineyard of 8 ha in organic reconvertion. Corbières beautiful red vintage Passionnément 2007, a beautiful wine, very full, with coated tannins, of a beautiful garnet to the purplished reflections, powerful and robust with raspberry scents very present, undergrowth and of cinnamon, good guard. Viognier is a fleshy wine with a good point of very pleasant acidity, with the aromas of pear and white flowers, all in persistence, ideal on scallops. There is also the Vin de Pays d' Hauterive Eden red 2006, a wine with matter and tannins, with the aromas of fruits red and undergrowth, all stops some like the Vin de Pays d' Hauterive Sensuelles red 2006, charmer and bulky, with notes of violet and liquorice, he is traditional, rich color, dense in mouth, where prevail the macerated fruits, to uncork on a guinea fowl.

A property of XVIIe century of 25 ha planted on terraces argilo-limestones of gravel and alluvia. Beautiful Corbières N°2 cuvée Prestige 2006, gold medal with Competition of Vignerons Indépendant, intense color, with the tannins present and silky at the same time, marked by its soil, with these notes of spices, black fruits and torrefaction, wine of a full and rich mouth, with the subtle nuances, powerful but very delicate tannins. N° 1 cuvée Tradition 2008 has much structure, still young, but already quite expressive, with the pronounced black cherry and blackcurrant aromas. Charmer Corbières cuvée Rosée du Matin 2008, rosy of bleeding and press, with very light filtration to respect the structure and the fruit, of beautiful color, all in aromatic smoothness, with the nuances of strawberry and white peach, with a point of nervousness, subtly spiced, of a great persistence in mouth. Taste N° 9 French Parad' Oc 2008 VDP d’Oc, the 6 type of vines are present in this vintage (Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet franc, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre), traditional wine making by type of vine before assembly, short fermenting to preserve the roundness and the fruit, a full and generous vintage with the wild raspberry and cherry nose.

Beautiful place in the classification 2010. Winegrowing of 61 ha including 28.25 of vines, located in the Corbières average. Family estate since 6 generations. Sure value with their Corbières red 2003, well maturing in oak barrel 24 months, a velvety wine, very scented, with these ripe fruit and undergrowth notes (strawberry, bilberry), of a beautiful fullness in mouth, very good evolution. Tasty 2002, of robe deep crimson and, with this red fruit nose intense, rich and structured, of a great aromatic complexity (morello cherry, humus…), spiced in mouth. Rosy Corbières 2008, manual grape harvest, wine making by bleeding, are of fond of delicacies mouth prevailed by apricot and the fresh flowers, quite suave as it should be, spiced as one needs it, ideal on the poultry pots, a wine which particularly allured us. Excellent white Corbières, vinified and matured out of barrels of a wine during 12 months (50% Grenache white, 30% Marsanne and 20% Roussane), which smells of the lime and ripe apple, of delicate robe, a wine dense, rich with the nose as in mouth, the peach notes with finally a point of grapefruit and a wooded good melted, sharp and round at the same time. Taste also the Vin de Table Chardonnay Reflet d' Oc, manual grape harvest, traditional and quite fruity, with the notes of peach, melted and expenses in mouth, succeeded well.

Vineyard of 35 ha vines, adherent Terra Vitis. The winegrowing eliminated all insecticides as from 2009, and received its reasoned certification to the title of Agriculture. Excellent red Coteaux-du -Languedoc Terroir de la Clape 2006, deep color, typified, with the spice and very ripe red fruit nose, wine of a full and rich mouth, associating powerfull and smoothness. Rosy Slope-of-Languedoc is all in aromas, a wine fresh, well-balanced, which feels currant and citrus fruits, of charming mouth (35 gold medals since 2002). Excellent white Coteaux-du -Languedoc Terroir de laClape 2006 (6 months on the lees delicate out of barrels), with the nut and ripe yellow fruit notes, of a beautiful final, of rich mouth, delicate and persistent.

A winegrowing of 25 ha of vines and 10 ha wood. Beautiful Coteaux-du -Languedoc cuvée Déodat de Sèverat 2006, Syrah with very weak yield, with a little Grenache and of Carignan. Each year one or more pieces are worked in a way more pushed even with weak yields 17 to 25 hl/ha. Tasty Coteaux-du-Languedoc Les Sigillées white 2008, where intermingle with the notes of ripe apple and heather, a wine very quite well-balanced and full, a nice wine, very pleasant like Clairette-du -Languedoc Vieilles Vignes 2007 (Clairette white, maturing for 30% out of new barrels and 70% out of tanks on the lees), where release themselves from the connotations of ripe citrus fruits and Narcisse, suave and sharp at the same time. Coteaux-du -Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac cuvée Charles 2007 (approximately 1/3 of the 3 type of vines Grenache, Syrah and Carignan on grounds of rolled rollers and low registers with some red clays, of the manual grape harvest, with coated tannins, fleshy as it should be, rich and traditional, scented (red fruits with core, grooves, humus…), slightly peppered, of slow evolution.

Winegrowing of 28 ha vines, reasoned fight, any weeding chemical fertilizer nor. That gives this Coteaux-du -Languedoc L’Âme de Familongue 2007, of beautiful intensity, with the pronounced aromas of raspberry, morello cherry and spices, of a beautiful structure, full and bulky. Coteaux-du -Languedoc Mas de Vignals red 2008, where prevail the overripe spices and fruits, with the powerful nose, is fullbodied, with rich tannins. Taste Vin de Pays du Mont Baudile Mas du Vignals red 2007, pure Cinsault, manual grape harvest with sorting on stock, scented (fresh fruits, humus…), slightly spiced finally, a powerful wine and very structured, coloured, of good evolution. Red Coteaux-du -Languedoc Les 3 Naissances 2006 is extremely well matured, it develops with the nose of the notes of undergrowth and morello cherry, associating smoothness and structure, with silky tannins, of good evolution. Nice rosy 2008, of distinguished mouth where prevail the fresh fruits, very tasty. There is still L’Envol de Familongue red 2006, outstanding commendation award in Vinalies, firm, with the red noses of cooked fruits, truffle and humus, very robust, of a nice final, and L’Envol de Familongue white 2009, prevailed by toast and white fruit notes.

At the top of First Classified Great wines. Family winegrowing of 28 ha, located at the foot of the Noire mountain, in broken hills in the north of Pézenas. Its name comes from the small brook which crosses the property, coming from the slopes of Aspiran. Intensive renewal of the vineyard in 2000. Coteaux-du -Languedoc cuvée André 2005, Mourvèdre majority with 15% Syrah, matured separately out of barrels of oak during 18 months, intense robe, is typified, with the nose of blackberry and violet, spiced well, with tannins present and silky at the same time, of good guard. The vintage Virevolte 2005 is a quite fullbodied wine, where prevail of the ripe blackcurrant and leather notes, with molten but rich tannins, combining color and matter, of a nice spiced final, excellent evolution. Attractive Clairette-du-Languedoc blanc moelleux 2007, pure Clairette, quite well-balanced in acidity, with nuances of dry fruits persistent to which the lily and the pear are added, of full and silky mouth, a very beautiful final, a wine which is enjoyed as well with aperitif as on a fruit tart. The Vin de Pays de l’Hérault Carignan 2007 is all stops some, generous, of quite fullbodied mouth, a wine rich color, traditional, of beautiful matter, with quite firm tannins, the nose prevailed by blackberry and the undergrowth.

At the top of the first classified great wines. The estate is qualified with the title of reasoned agriculture Terra Vitis for the activity of vine growing and wine making. The grape harvest is done with the hand, making it possible to carry out the sorting necessary for a perfect maturation. A winegrowing of 25 ha on schist grounds whose Middle Age of the vines is 60 years. You will like this remarkable Faugères fermented Marie Laurencie 2007, a compartmental selection of Syrah 40%, Grenache 30%, Carignan 20% and Mouvèdre 10%, with a very small average yield of 20 hl/ha, vinified whole with a very long maceration then a maturing out of barrel for 20% of Syrah and 20% of Carignan which are then assembled with type of vines matured out of tanks. The wine is coloured, with the expressive nose with notes of violet and liquorice, combining smoothness and structure, of silky and scented mouth, and continues its evolution. Faugères fermented Charlotte 2006, resulting from Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre, is intense and harmonious, of a beautiful aromatic persistence (morello cherry, scrub), with coated tannins. Very beautiful Faugères Prestige 2005 (40% Syrah, 40% Carignan and 20% Mourvèdre, on the slopes of Serre, arid slope on the heights of the southern full exposed village vis-a-vis the sea), partly matured out of barrels, very scented (humus, liquorice), of a beautiful fullness, very good evolution. Excellent rosy 2009, well-balanced Faugères, of a very delicate color, tasty mouth.

Six generations of vine growers, a vineyard of 33 ha on grounds argilo-limestones with an average age of the vines of more than 60 years. Excellent Fitou cuvée Ancestrale 2007 (Carignan black black and Grenache on grounds argilo-limestones), of nice robe crimson intense, quite fullbodied, combining color and matter, with very silky but very firm tannins also, with the complex nose (strawberry of wood, liquorice). Fitou cuvée Les Mégalithes 2007 (95% of oldest Carignan), is a wine with matter and tannins, with the aromas of fruits red and undergrowth, rich with the nose as in mouth. Taste Fitou cuvée Jean Sirven 2007 (majority Carignan, Grenache black and Syrah), a vintage created in tribute to the back-back-large-father who was gold medal with the exposure of Paris in 1900, a generous wine, of full and fruity mouth with cherry notes and humus, in ripe tannins, and this Fitou Origines 2007, which presents crystallized notes and greedy tannins.

At the top of First Classified Great wines. Beautiful red Minervois vintage Jean Miquel Vieilles Vignes 2007 (80% Carignan and 20% Grenache, matured 12 months out of barrels), of beautiful intensity, very expressive of its Carignan, with the fruity spice and red fruit aromas, a full and bulky wine, with velvety tannins, of very good guard, a wine which continues its beautiful evolution. In the line, its rosy Minervois 2008 is one of best of the area, all into fruity, associating nervousness and suppleness, a supple and frank wine, finely spiced, ideal with shrimps or a pie of hare. Excellent Muscat Saint-Jean-de-Minervois cuvée Nicolas (Muscat with small grains), with prevailing of fruits fresh with a point of lily, very aromatic, of mouth suave, light and round at the same time, generous and charmer. You will also appreciate Minervois Marie-Therese 2007, of beautiful steady robe, with the blackberry and undergrowth notes, a wine spiced as it should be, intense and structured, with this powerful and persistent mouth. The Côtes de Thongue 2008 also is successful, like this Local wine d' Oc Muscat Sec 2008, a wine suave and dryness at the same time, finely scented (white flowers, citrus fruits, honey), of a beautiful aromatic complexity.

A very favorite for this Minervois Tourril 2005 (80% Syrah out of barrels, 20% Grenache), with the powerful nose, all in aromatic nuances where liquorice and the spices prevail, of rich mouth, good evolution like Minervois fermented Philippe 2005, of beautiful dense garnet-red robe, with the nose of ripe fruits and humus, with tannins quite present, at the same time silky and rich, a powerful wine, of a beautiful harmony in mouth. Rosy Minervois 2009 combines smoothness and structure frankly, and fruity, with the nose of the scents of fresh flowers and apricot, then, in mouth, of the discrete nuances of strawberry, a wine which Marie very well with a parillada, for example. Taste also their Minervois fermented Les 3 Lesses 2007, pure Carignan, matured out of barrels, of fleshy and scented mouth (bilberry, spices…), with firm but velvety tannins, which it is necessary to let melt itself.

An estate of 12 ha. A vineyard carried out since always in a spirit of respect of the environment. Very charmer Pic-Saint-Loup Dame Jeanne red 2008 (to incarnate its first vintage, Jeanne, shepherdess on the high plateaus of Bergerie du Capucin, elegant woman, beautiful and very alive, imposed itself). The wine (63% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, direct pressing for Syrah, bled for Grenache and Mourvèdre, traditional wine making with permanent control of the temperature, Mourvèdre are vinified except for), are very scented, harmonious, with the nose subtle and intense at the same time (ripe, undergrowth), full, generous and persistent, of very good guard. Pic Saint Loup Dame Jeanne rosy 2009, is of delicate robe, with this nose prevailed by the fresh, ideal small fruits on a pot. Vin de Pays du Val de Montferrand Dame Jeanne white 2008 (80% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier), is a delicate and powerful wine at the same time, of beautiful pale yellow robe, a pleasant roundness finally.

At the top, and by far. Splendid Vin de Pays red 2007, of color intense, with tannins very present, of a steady structure, very fleshy, with these nuances of black fruits jams, leather, undergrowth, promising, of course. 2006, of color intense, elegant, a beautiful wine concentrated, with the powerful nose, all in aromatic nuances where liquorice and the spices prevail, of rich mouth, long guard like the very great 2005, complex with the nose and in mouth, concentrated out of matters, with ripe tannins, very scented, with fruity blackberry and raspberry notes, of slow evolution. White 2008 is once again exceptional, except standards, where all the force of his soil is found, a delicate and scented, dense and elegant great wine as it is needed, with a beautiful balance between freshness, the roundness and the fruity one, of a long final with subtle notes of citrus fruits, musk and flowers, of excellent guard. In another style, for the every day, one also gives pleasure with red Guilhem, with the aromas of violet and blackberry, expenses in mouth, quite robust, a wine “like formerly”, which profits, of a quality-price-pleasure ratio without competition.