garrett_pierce
Garrett Pierce
I just don't seem to drink enough Languedoc wines, but that was remedied last night after a Languedoc-themed tasting. There were some gems and some that showed terribly. Here is my rundown (all wines first served blind):
10 Creyssels Picpoul de Pinet - Picpoul from right on the ocean, pied de cuve. Nice weight, not as searingly acidic as some Picpoul. Golden apple and pear skin. A guzzler.
08 Mas Jullien Vin De Pays de L'Harault Blanc - Standard white Rhone grapes present, but not flabby. Harsh, almondy finish, though not in an oxidized way. This was aight.
10 Domaine Faillenc St Marie Corbieres Blanc - Almost a day on the skins, and the bitters/jager thing is coming through. This wine is certainly made from some very ripe grapes. A touch hot on the finish.
08 Domaine Rimbert 'Le Mas au Schiste' Saint-Chinian - 100% Schist soils. One of the favorites of the night. Great balance of red and black fruit from the Carignan/Grenache. Pungent aromas of garrigue.
Under $20 in CA and quite possibly my new go-to wine.
06 Dimanches (Emile Heredia) - A couple of us thought this was slightly corked. I had a bottle last week and it was singing its ass off. Last night it was flat, muted and kinda gross. I'm going to stick with the tca idea and hope the next bottle I get is as good as the one last week. I believe this wine is sans soufre.
09 Chateau La Roque Pic Saint Loup "Cuvee les vielles vignes de Mourvedre' - This estate has a pretty large production and I remember not digging their entry level red, but this was pretty nice. Big, but nice. Some truffle, herbs and plenty of tannin.
08 Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres - Another favorite. The slight amount of e.a. worked harmoniously in this bottle (reminiscent of Bea's reds that way). Very pretty wine, balancing dark fruit with high tones. Slightly oxidized on the finish, though...
07 Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc - Pretty closed, my bad. Doesn't even deserve a review at this point.
06 Domaine de Trevallon Vin De Pays Des Bouches du Rhone - OK, not technically in the Languedoc, but not technically in Provence either. Been wanted to try this for a long time. 50/50 Cab/Syrah and very bizarre, yet interesting stuff. Lots of veggie, pickled notes on the nose with big, ripe prune fruits. After a couple hours this started opening into something nice. More typical dark fruits and dill, but the vegetable and tannin never receded. Another one opened too young, I presume.
A really fun tasting, but I left thinking there should have probably been a bottle of Mas De Daumas Gassac in the line-up. Anyone have a preferred vintage from them? White or Red?
08 Mas Jullien Vin De Pays de L'Harault Blanc - Standard white Rhone grapes present, but not flabby. Harsh, almondy finish, though not in an oxidized way. This was aight.
10 Domaine Faillenc St Marie Corbieres Blanc - Almost a day on the skins, and the bitters/jager thing is coming through. This wine is certainly made from some very ripe grapes. A touch hot on the finish.
08 Domaine Rimbert 'Le Mas au Schiste' Saint-Chinian - 100% Schist soils. One of the favorites of the night. Great balance of red and black fruit from the Carignan/Grenache. Pungent aromas of garrigue.
Under $20 in CA and quite possibly my new go-to wine.
06 Dimanches (Emile Heredia) - A couple of us thought this was slightly corked. I had a bottle last week and it was singing its ass off. Last night it was flat, muted and kinda gross. I'm going to stick with the tca idea and hope the next bottle I get is as good as the one last week. I believe this wine is sans soufre.
09 Chateau La Roque Pic Saint Loup "Cuvee les vielles vignes de Mourvedre' - This estate has a pretty large production and I remember not digging their entry level red, but this was pretty nice. Big, but nice. Some truffle, herbs and plenty of tannin.
08 Domaine Leon Barral Faugeres - Another favorite. The slight amount of e.a. worked harmoniously in this bottle (reminiscent of Bea's reds that way). Very pretty wine, balancing dark fruit with high tones. Slightly oxidized on the finish, though...
07 Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc - Pretty closed, my bad. Doesn't even deserve a review at this point.
06 Domaine de Trevallon Vin De Pays Des Bouches du Rhone - OK, not technically in the Languedoc, but not technically in Provence either. Been wanted to try this for a long time. 50/50 Cab/Syrah and very bizarre, yet interesting stuff. Lots of veggie, pickled notes on the nose with big, ripe prune fruits. After a couple hours this started opening into something nice. More typical dark fruits and dill, but the vegetable and tannin never receded. Another one opened too young, I presume.
A really fun tasting, but I left thinking there should have probably been a bottle of Mas De Daumas Gassac in the line-up. Anyone have a preferred vintage from them? White or Red?