The `04 Lancyre Vieilles Vignes...how long to cellar?

This Pic St. Loup domaine gets a fair amount of discussion time here, especially from Bob H. Many others have chipped in from time to time so lets see how the newly released `04 is shaping up.

WTN: `04 Chateau de Lancyre Vieilles Vignes, Pic St. Loup, Languedoc.

Good natural cork, opened and decanted for 2 hrs. 13.5% alc, cost is $22 Cdn.
No sediment noted, 65-35 Syrah/Grenache. Well established maison with very good track record.

Color. Always hard to discern in Doris ranch, different lighting in different areas! Medium red-ruby, not too intense a centre. Pale purple on a watery tinged rim?? Tough.

Nose. Pretty closed even after first pour. Initial meatyness on pulling cork. Cassis after 2 hrs, plum tar as it opens. Hint of oak.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts are some ripe fruit, medium tannins, lengthy chalky finish, too young. Tight, good grip, plummy, excellent acidity.
My thoughts are all over the place even after day 2! Not quite as astringent, has a more earthy feel with blackberry (and raspberry) I think. It is a very good wine for $22 but I`m going to keep 2 more in the cellar for a while...along with the excellent pinkie!!

Have one glass let for day 3. Oh, food was veal scallopini with roasted red pepper coulis.

[David M. Bueker]

I would drink within first 7-8 years after the vintage which gives you 2-3 more years or so.

Yeah, thats what I reckon David..
Was able to stock up on the new vintage of the `07 white today..La Rouviere. Bob H, you around?

I don't know this one, Bob, but from your note and the mention "VV", it sounds as if it needs more time, say 3-4 years. In general, I don't now seek to age wines from Languedoc/Roussillon too much as I don't think that they often develop outstanding secondary and tertiary aromas with age to compensate for lost freshness. I am now lapping up some 05 and 06 entry level cuvées though the more ambitious are tougher and the vignerons agree that they need a few years to reach their best.

However, I have opened a few oldsters (>10 years) lately which seem to be exceptions to what I say above and have surprised me by their excellence, the oldest and perhaps best being the Mas Jullien 89, but Aupilhac 98, Aiguelière 99 and Peyre-Rose 95 (if you can stand its massiveness) were not far behind (see WTNs on these). Only time will tell whether the Lancyre is in this category, unless someone out there has experience of its older vintages.

Only time will tell whether the Lancyre is in this category, unless someone out there has experience of its older vintages.

Excellent point Tim. I feel that Languedoc needs a fair amount of additional study regarding how they might age. Not too many folks here are Langue specialists, perhaps Jamie might have some impressions?
Will look at your notes on the domaines you have mentioned.

Oh, found these informative notes from the importer.......>

http://www.handpickedselections.com/pag ... ancyre.htm

It's a tricky one. Most of the Languedoc wines I'm famililar with don't have a long track record of ageing, so the counsel of caution is probably to drink them young, when they taste great anyway. BUT there's no reason why well put together reds, especially from the best terroirs, shouldn't also gain something from age.

I recently had a 1996 Grange des Peres that was showing really well. I've also tried older vintages of Mas de Daumas that have developed in interesting ways.

Moving further afield, and old favourite, Domaine de Baruel, was pretty much immortal. And in Provence, Trevallon seems to age beautifully.

Only time will tell whether the Lancyre is in this category, unless someone out there has experience of its older vintages.

Excellent point Tim. I feel that Languedoc needs a fair amount of additional study regarding how they might age. Not too many folks here are Langue specialists, perhaps Jamie might have some impressions?
Will look at your notes on the domaines you have mentioned.

Oh, found these informative notes from the importer.......>

http://www.handpickedselections.com/pag ... ancyre.htm

Bob, I was thinking of linking to the same web page when I saw you had already done it. As I told you privately I have some VV's from 99 and 98 still in the cellar. Right now I am on wine probation while I try to shed some unwanted poundage, but when that is done with (successfully?) I will open one of the 98's and check them out. I have for the most part kept these wines at 61F degrees, so they should be just fine. I also have some older 98 & 00 Grand Cuvee's that need to be revisited too. I hope to have finished the wine probation by sometime in April, and IF I can remember this then I will let you know.

Bob H will need a reminder.........>I hope to have finished the wine probation by sometime in April, and IF I can remember this then I will let you know.

Found some `07 La Rouviere white so stocking up there too!

Bob H will need a reminder.........>I hope to have finished the wine probation by sometime in April, and IF I can remember this then I will let you know.

Found some `07 La Rouviere white so stocking up there too!

Bob, I thought they had dropped the La Rouviere name on their 90% rousanne 10% viognier white. Is that still on the label? I just today reserved a case of the 2007 rosé and when I go pick that up I will check \on the white as well...might just call the store to see if they have it i\n stock. The store where this is happens to be a 150 mile round trip so it might be a whole before I do pick it up. Good to see that I've been able turn you on to Lancyre. Most would like the wines if they tried them.

Yup, label here in Canada says La Rouviere, right here in front of me.
Glad to hear that the rose is on the way for you!