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I've been pleasantly surprised by the response to our Wine Focus on Languedoc in both my E-mail and our interactive forums - it seems that a lot of wine lovers are coming to recognize Languedoc as a fertile field for good wine values. So let's stick with this topic for one more day, this time zeroing in on Pic Saint-Loup, the sub-region that just about all the experts rank as Languedoc's top producer of excellent red wines.
Twenty miles north of the Mediterranean coast in the hills ("Coteaux du Languedoc") that surround Montpellier, its relatively high altitude guarantees the cool nights and long summers in which fine wine grapes thrive; and its limestone soils, the experts say, provide the minerally terroir that distinguishes the region's wines. Pic Saint-Loup takes its strange name ("Peak Saint Wolf") from a craggy, chalky limestone mountain that juts up like an eerie prehistoric wolf's fang, rising more than 1,500 feet above the surrounding rolling fields and vines. Producing almost entirely red wines, Pic Saint-Loup's vineyards grow mostly Syrah, Mourvédre and Grenache, the latter being preferentially planted here in modern times to replace the Pic's older Carignan and Cinsaut vines. You'll note a similarity between these plantings and those of the Southern Rhone and Provence; the grapes are ideally suited to the region's aforementioned climate and soils, so it's no surprise that those who appreciate excellent Rhone reds are delighted by Pic Saint-Loup. The real surprise is these wines remain so relatively affordable. This happy (for consumers) imbalance of demand and supply can't last long in today's heated wine market, so the word from here is buy, buy, buy. Today's featured wine, Château de Lascaux 2001 "Les Nobles Pierres," is the top bottling from a respected producer; and while its $20 price tag is getting on the spendy side for everyday drinking, it's noteworthy that this price point pretty much represents the high end for Pic Saint-Loup. Compare that with wines of similar quality from the Northern or Southern Rhone and you'll start to grasp the Pic's value appeal. Lascaux, which means "limestone" in French, shares its name with the famous limestone caves with their prehistoric cave paintings. The caves are located farther north, but they earn a nod from proprietor Jean-Benoit Cavalier with a tiny animal on the label apparently drawn from Cro-Magnon art. This bottling, "Les Nobles Pierres" ("The Noble Stones") is a blend of 90 percent Syrah and 10 percent Grenache.
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WINE FOCUS:
Very dark garnet in color, its complex aromas start with black fruit, berries and plums, adding complex whiffs of wood smoke, spice and licorice. All that plus a dash of raspberry liqueur on the palate, built on a good acidic structure. Pleasant earthy-mineral notes place it a bit closer to "rustic" than "elegant" on the flavor spectrum, but it dresses up well enough to take it out on a date. A base of 90% Syrah gains extra fruit from a splash of Grenache in the blend. U.S. importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2007) FOOD MATCH: Like all sturdy Syrahs, this wine would find its natural match with grilled beef or poultry, but it's versatile and food friendly, making a surprisingly good cross-cultural pairing with a relatively mild rendition of Saag gohst, Indian lamb in a thick spinach-and-yogurt sauce. VALUE: It's hard to quibble with a $20 price point for this excellent bottling, although the price places it toward the upper end of the range for Languedoc reds. Note also that Chateau de Lascaux offers a more modest Pic Saint-Loup in the lower teens. I'll report on it soon. WHEN TO DRINK: Its Syrah base, good structure and tannins hints at capability for evolution and a reasonably long drinking plateau, perhaps through 2013 or beyond under excellent cellar conditions.
PRONUNCIATION:
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FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
It should be available in the U.S. from any merchant that handles Kermit Lynch's portfolio. For specifics, check the distributor page on the importer's Website,
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Today's article is cross-posted in our Netscape WineLovers Community, where we also welcome comments and questions. To contact me by E-mail, write wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit.
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Terroirs of Burgundy with Robin Garr
Now, with the respected wine-touring company French Wine Explorers, we've crafted a special, once-in-a-lifetime Terroirs of Burgundy tour aimed at thrifty, value-seeking wine and food lovers. If you've long dreamed of learning Burgundy and its wines with an expert at hand but thought you couldn't possibly afford it, I invite you to consider The Terroirs of Burgundy. I'll be personally leading the July 2-7, 2007 tour, and I promise maximum "bang for the buck." Our itinerary will feature VIP-style winery tours and tastings, quality accommodations and, especially for "foodies," meals at a variety of Burgundian dining rooms including country inns, classic bistros and at least one Michelin-starred gastronomic delight. Interested? Don't delay, as the tour is strictly limited to 16 wine lovers. You can review the itinerary and details at http://www.wineloverspage.com/tour/ For more information or to make reservations, send E-mail to info@wine-tours-france.com or call +1-877-261-1500 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada). And if you would like to discuss this tour with me personally, feel free to write me at wine@wineloverspage.com Administrivia To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, or for any other administrative matters, please use the individualized hotlink found at the end of your E-mail edition. If this is not practical, contact me by E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com, including the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so I can find your record. We do not use our E-mail list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail address to anyone. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. To contact me, please send E-mail to wine@wineloverspage.com All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry.
Friday, Feb. 9, 2007
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Château de Lascaux 2001 "Les Nobles Pierres" Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup ($19.99)
