Here`s an interesting red from Languedoc!! Any idea what I have?

Being a big fan of S France, purchased a L`Oustal Blanc, Naick 3 red. It`s N/V from Isabel and Claude Fonquerle. Vin de Table on back label, $30 Cdn and a big 15%alc.

Any comments appreciated, Salut!

Bob,

If you read French (aren't Canadians supposed to be bilingual?), there is a link here giving some information -

http://www.chateauloisel.com/vin/langue ... -blanc.htm

Thanks Tim, yup speak fluent as I worked in France for a few years. Also did "A"level French stuff.
Not much info on the label, back and front... no mention of a vintage?. Think will google visit asap. Appreciate your reply though. Store did confirm 3/4 usual varietals.

Being a big fan of S France, purchased a L`Oustal Blanc, Naick 3 red. It`s N/V from Isabel and Claude Fonquerle. Vin de Table on back label, $30 Cdn and a big 15%alc.

Any comments appreciated, Salut!

They are in the Cotes du Ventoux. They seem to produce Minervois wines plus the L'Oustal Blanck NV line, from 8 acres of grapes.

What surprises me is the $30 tag for a Vin de Table NV.

Re: Vaucluse

The owner, Claude Fonquerle, comes from Vaucluse (Château Valmont) but the estate is in Minervois.

According to Le Classement, the estate tends to harvest its grapes very ripe with the result that alcohol is high. They recommend drinking them in the winter!

Mention of vintage is illegal in France for Vins de Table, which makes it odd that both the Château Loisel website and Classement mention them for the Naïck range.

The French price for this wine is about 12 EUR.

From CT it's a Grenache blend..but maybe that was clear from the location....

Re: Grenache blend

The Château Loisel link gives the varietal composition of Naïck and Grenache only represents 10%; Cinsault is 50% which could account for a reported taste of prunes.

Incidentally it looks, from the same site, as if the number following "Naîck" give a clue to the vintage, viz. Naiïck 2 is 2002, Naïck 3 is 2003 and so on. A neat way to get round a stupid law!

Thanks for all the helpful info from everyone. Am under the weather right now but will get back with some thoughts!

Re: Grenache blend

The Château Loisel link gives the varietal composition of Naïck and Grenache only represents 10%; Cinsault is 50% which could account for a reported taste of prunes.

Incidentally it looks, from the same site, as if the number following "Naîck" give a clue to the vintage, viz. Naiïck 2 is 2002, Naïck 3 is 2003 and so on. A neat way to get round a stupid law!

I have spent a good hour running around the `net here! Seems to be a lot of confusion out there about grape content but looks like Tim has nailed it regards Cinsault content. I saw 60% somewhere so more prunes eh!!

However, I just looked again on that website. Think thats the `02 Tim???

They are in the Cotes du Ventoux. They seem to produce Minervois wines plus the L'Oustal Blanck NV line, from 8 acres of grapes.

What surprises me is the $30 tag for a Vin de Table NV.

Thomas, the price surprises me too. What surprises me even more is that Bob paid it! Or someone did I suppose.

Lol, they still have some on the shelf...a year and a half later!
OK I fess up, I did fork out the dough. Just cannot seem to pass S France by.

Well, the bottle was polished off quite nicely. Still rather bemused by the Vin de Table Francais appellation here and website seems to skirt around the issue. The grape varieties seem OK but possible this wine is a Minervois and St Chinian blend which could explain it all? Maybe Tim has some further insight.

WTN: Naick 3 L`Oustal Blanc, Vin de Table Francais.

Excellent natural cork, 15% alc, cost was excessive..$30 Cdn. Opened an hour but not decanted. Smart packaging but little info on any label.
One website thinks 70% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 15% Syrah.
Claude Finquerie has a CdP background but also owned a property in Ventoux area before settling in Minervois.

Color. A medium ruby-red with violet fades on the rim. Not a big depth of centre.

Nose. Cherry, plum, ripe, pepper. "Makes me think of a GSM blend" from across the table. Not a bad deduction I thought. Still showed some nice complexity on day 2.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts were blackberry, raspberry, soft tannins, low acidity, just a brief hint of some heat. This is the `03 vintage remember.
Thought I perceived some loganberry after an hour or so, plus some prunes and cocoa but no real agreement at the table. Agreed medium-bodied and some herb du Provence. No oak tones as 80% cement vats.

Very expensive for what it is, wonder how this wine would turn out in a better vintage?

Bob, the Oustal Blanc range is expensive here, too; which is the reason why I haven't bought any, though the quality is good. Their top Minervois La Livinière goes for some €29 . One of my reference books quotes the cellar door retail price of Naick6 at €12; so I guess a trade price of €9. You can estimate the profits of the Canadian distribution chain from there.

Bob, the Oustal Blanc range is expensive here, too; which is the reason why I haven't bought any, though the quality is good. Their top Minervois La Livinière goes for some €29 . One of my reference books quotes the cellar door retail price of Naick6 at €12; so I guess a trade price of €9. You can estimate the profits of the Canadian distribution chain from there.

Guess you have figured it out Tim....Federal tax, Provincial tax, Alberta Liquor Control Board %, agents cut, gst, winestore mark up. There is no end to it!!

Anyhows Tim, just hit another jackpot. See here.....>!!

http://languedoc-wine.blogspot.com/

Anyhows Tim, just hit another jackpot. See here.....>!!

http://languedoc-wine.blogspot.com/

Bob, I have had some Mas Bruguière and very good it is too.

Philippe Cambie, who is an oenologue all over Chateauneuf du Pape, makes this wine. The red versions all taste Cambie-ish to me, which is from me, not a compliment. But if you are a fan of Isabel Ferrando's wines or the upper cuvees of Clos St. Jean, you may like them. The whites are also somewhat overshowy, but I have liked them in small doses. I expect the price tag results from all the expensive things Cambie does to his wine.

Thanks for the imput Jonathan. Not a wine I would buy again, it was just a spur of the minute thing as Languedoc always pulls the wallet out!
Like many, I prefer to stick to the wines I know or have read about here.

I think it is time for a Lanky-Dock Wine Focus or at least an Open Mike here on this place!!

Bob, the Oustal Blanc range is expensive here, too; which is the reason why I haven't bought any, though the quality is good. Their top Minervois La Livinière goes for some €29 . One of my reference books quotes the cellar door retail price of Naick6 at €12; so I guess a trade price of €9. You can estimate the profits of the Canadian distribution chain from there.

Was in store again today and right next to the Oustal I found a newly arrived `04 Domaine de Courbissac Pandora Minervois La Liviniere. Marc Tempe from Alsace is a co-owner.