WTN: 2005 Domaine Clavel Copa Santa, Languedoc,

Having been inspired by a previous post http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21432&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a on the 1998 and after being urged by Jenise to go buy some, (as if I need much urging ) I went and bought three bottles of 2005 Domaine Clavel Copa Santa, Languedoc.
I am sooooo glad I did;
Extremely dense and opaque with a vibrant purple showing at the rim. Intense nose of field berries, black olives, chocolate, seared steak and herbs from the garrigue. Full bodied and chewy, this wine is still too young to drink as the tanins clamp down on what I am sure will be be a long aftertaste once they have mellowed with time. I really enjoyed this wine. I will not open another bottle for another two or three years. Thanks Jenise!

Great, another Langue posting this month. Keep`em coming.

Simon..suggest you try Clavel's lower level wines as well..Mas by Clavel ages quite nicely, is a gutsy bistro type wine and ran me well under $10/bottle..roughy $6/bottle by the case if memory serves and we just drank the last of the 2000..Les Garrigues is somewheres between Mas and Copa Santa and is also a very consistant wine and reasonably priced..have been enjoying Clavel wines for quite a few years since my local wine guy tipped me off to them.

enjoy

..

John,

Thanks for the heads up on Mas by Clavel. Unfortunately it is not available here in Quebec, where all wine can only be bought through the state-run wine shops. (http://www.saq.com) I have been a fan of les Garrigues for a while now, but the Copa Santa is definitely a notch up.

Simon

I haven't sampled this estate yet. This one sounds impressive and is apparently dominated by Syrah http://www.vins-clavel.com/clavelGB.asp?IdPage=8007 . So this WTN anticipates February's Wine Focus.

Yes, Copa Santa offers great value. I am a big fan of 1998 Copa Santa. Two years ago the winemaker was in town, very nice person. Here are some notes and a podcast with Mr. Clavel about the 2005 vintage.

http://berlinkitchen.com/berlinkitchen/ ... sting.html

http://berlinkitchen.com/berlinkitchen/ ... ge_05.html

Cheers,
Martin

Thanks for the note.

Anyone tried the 03 Copa Santa?

Very disappointing 03 Copa Santa, clearly a victim of the hot summer. Maybe you like it, as I often found that american palates have no problems with flamboyant alcohol/fruit bombs.

That is what I figured. I read a few notes that it was good, but was afraid that the heat of the summer negatively impacted the wine.

I am not a fan of big, flamboyant and hot wines.