Road Reports

The Cooperative du Pic Saint Loup is actually two, due to a merger some time back with the Cooperative in Saint Mathieu de Treviers. As Cooperatives go, these folks really have their act together, have recognized what they have to do to grow, and are about to take on the North American market as part of the year 2000.

Up till now they were held back by a small bottling line and no clear cut marketing strategy, but that is all changing with a new approach, new leadership and winemaking direction from the same person who makes the wines for Jack Boutin at Chateau LaRoque. Based on the wines tasted, and the price points, Cooperative du Pic is one of the rising stars of sub $10.00 wine that can reach the USA market with wine which will easily outclass comparatively priced domestic juice.

Already this year the coop secured a slot on all British Airways for the very fine 1997 Pic St. Loup Reserve and a lot on Air Lingus for their Vin d’ Nuit 98. Those two pouring outlets helps to expose them heavily to the global marketplace.

Their 1998 oak aged, in barriques, Merlot, made for a Paris negociant and Cabernet are sensational and would be well received in the US market, hopefully they can strike a deal in the next few months as those two wines are terrific value wines that would be easily consumed by the mass market.

Here are the results of the tasting which took the better part of a Saturday morning.:

1998 Val de Montferand Vin d’Pays Blanc

A blend of Ugni Blanc, Terret, Rolle, Marsanne, this light aromatic white is easy to enjoy and would be a perfect summer backyard white. It is full of tropical grapefruit and pineapple. Good.

1998 Chardonnay Vin d’Pays d’Oc

Aged in cuuve means no oak, which is most evident in its freshness and ripeness of the wine. Apples, green apples, pears and such in an easy to drink and refreshing Chard that ends with a sawdust finish. Good.

1998 Les Coteaux du Pic Chardonnay

Oak aged, slightly woody on nose and palate, it has vanilla, a golden yellow color, a round and oily texture, with rich fruit, but a short finish. Good.

1998 Rosé du Pic St. Loup

A nice salmon color, very aromatic nose, very round and full flavored with lush and smooth raspberry, blueberry and strawberry fruit., with a very deep and long finish. Very Good.

1998 Vin d’Pays d’Oc Merlot

Lots of Garrigue spice, ripe and round grapey fruit. Light on the palate, with flavors of black grapes and black cherries. Average.

1998 Merlot du Fut du Chen

Made in new small oak barrels known as barriques, this wine is supurb. It has a wonderful perfume bouquet and is super saturated in color. The fresh rose aroma, black raspberry, cherry and currants flavors and the elongated finish makes this a supurb wine. Excellent.

1998 Cabernet

Languedoc Cabernet is very different from Californian Cabernet. It is blended in a Bordeaux style but it has its own character. Think South Africa, not Australia. It is spicy, has the aroma of cypress not cedar, is jammy cherries and plums, not red cherries or plums. It aromatic, but long not round. Very Good.

1998 Vin d’ 1 Nuit

This red wine goes through one night of maceration and is a blend of 66% Syrah and 33 % Grenache. This is a bistro, café style wine for pouring by the glass of carafe. It is easy to drink, totally fruit forward and is clearly a wine to drink, not think about. Good.

1998 Pic St. Loup Tradition

A blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Greanche the wine has a chalky base with spice, violets and blueberries. A mass market wine and made in large quantity, this wine is easy to drink and pleasing. Good.

1998 Selection du Pic St. Loup

Syrah and Grenache are put through carbonic maceration to make this nice light and easy to drink red. The color is very extracted, giving it a bright red hue. Typical PSL Garrigue flavor is evident early, with more bright blackberry, blueberry flavors popping through. Good fruit levels and a solid wine. Good.

1997 Pic Saint Loup Cuvee Speical

A blend of cuvee and oak barrel aging gives this wine a special flavor. A very lush and exotic perfumed nose, the wine is bright, rich and ripe full of black stone fruits, oozing with raspberries, blueberries and cherries. There is still some light oak flavor, along with gentle tannins around the edges. Very Good.

1998 Cuvee Special (from barrel)

This is totally different than the 1997 as this was aged totally in the new oak barrels. Right now the oak is overpowering, but the color is exceedingly dense, the fruit levels high so it will be interesting to see how this wine progresses.

1999 Chardonnay

Lots of traditional chardonnay flavors with this wine. The nose is fruit while the palate is full of citrus flavors. Oranges, lemons plus pears and apples make this wine very refreshing. Good.

1999 Cabernet Rosée

Light pink color. Neutral nose. Needs time to come together.

1999 Syrah # 1 Rosée

Deep pink color. This is much more developed than the Cabernet Rose. Very easy to drink, with a nice lingering finish of strawberries and blueberries. Good.

1999 Syrah #2 Rosée

Almost a light red, it is that dark. Very spicy and typical PSL/Garrigue nose. Lots of pepper and herb flavors and scents. Lots of mid palate fruit flavors of berries, casis, cherries and plums. Very Good.

1999 Vin d’Pays Primeur Rouge du Montferrand

Think Beaujolais, as this wine is super saturated, bold and fruit forward. It is very refreshing in style, has a bistro quality and is loaded with bright bing cherries. Good.

1999 Vin d’Pays Cabernet Sauvignon

Very similar in style and flavor to the 1998. Good.

1999 Traditional Syrah

A long maceration period helped to produce this very dark purple wine with great levels of fruit. The wine is almost black in color, a little lighter in body than the 1998 and shows off lingering blueberry flavors.

1999 Syrah Carbonic Maceration

Inky black color with an amazing level of fruit being extracted. Immediate rush of blueberries on the nose. Loaded with jammy, blueberry, blackberries and flavors of lavender, cypress and mint. It is deep and rich and shows lots of great potential. Very Good.

Andy