Latest updates on France, French Wine, Food, Travel, Holidays and Events
FrenchDuck UK - Latest
| June 27, 2008 |
The Fête des Vins (wine festival) takes place in the Place de la Republique in Perpignan (66 Pyrenees-Orientales) on 27 June 2008, where more than 50 local winegrowers from the Rousillon region will present their wines. The wines include Cotes du Roussillon AC, Maury AC, Banyuls, Fitou AC and Muscat de Rivesaltes and Collioure AC.
Tours and tastings are also being organised in vineyards from the end of June until the beginning of September, plus a tasting over the same period in the Palais des Rois de Majorque in Perpignan.
For more information, please contact: apvr@vins-du-roussillon.com or +33 4 68 51 59 99 or see www.vinsduroussillon.com
A delightful surprise at the end of a long, hot tasting trip, when we thought we’d found enough new wines for the list.
Set in the hinterland of the Languedoc, north west of Nimes and in the shadow of the Cevennes mountains, this was a stretch of the South we had not traversed before - gently rolling landscape, a little wild with patches of moorland, interspersed with vineyards. Puechredon is in reality a small hamlet surrounded by vines, now run by the energetic Cyril Cuche.
There is little evidence of gleaming stainless steel here, with wines being vinified and matured in old-fashioned cement vats, lined with enamel or resin. Recently oak barrels have been introduced for maturing some of the special cuvées. It all had a slightly rustic feel - until we tasted the wines..
With just one exception (the Sauvignon Blanc 2000) the wines were well-made, full of wonderful fruit, and clearly made with tremendous skill. The “terroir” seems to provide more mineral extract and fruit concenttration than the land nearer to the coast. The landscape around the domaine offers a variety of soils and aspects, so that Cyril can select the most appropriate plot for each grape variety.
There is a charming tasting room (caveau) on the ground floor of the main house, which offers a fine welcome to visitors to the domaine.
See map location of Domaine de Puechredon
Cyril Cuche at Domaine de PuechredonCyril Cuche, winemaker
Amongst the wines we can recommend:-
Contact: Domaine de Puechredon, 30610 Puechredon, France
Tel: +33 (0)4.66.77.38.02 Fax: +33 (0) 4.66.77.43.33
Wines not available in the UK as far as I know.
Deep in deepest southern France the wine cooperative of Mont Tauch is in the heart of the Fitou and southern Corbieres appellations - this is not, rugged country which can produce excellent rich reds, and some surprisingly fresh white wines. You have to take a detour off the main autoroutes and explore narrow country lanes to reach them, but the effort is well worthwhile. The scenery is impressive and the wines have never disappointed.
In many ways Mont Tauch is the antithesis of what we usually look for in a wine producer - firstly it is a co-operative, which can be very variable in ethos and quality; and secondly it is a big, and too often size can undermine quality and distinctiveness in the quest for more commercial (i.e. bland unoffensive) wines.
However Mont Tauch will open its new visitor centre in Languedoc at the end of July 2008. The centre, located at the winery in Tuchan (11 Aude, Languedoc) and
aims to educate visitors about the cooperative and its wines, as well as about the surrounding Fitou appellation.
Visitors will be able to learn about a range of themes, including the diversity of vineyards and village life; soils and grape varieties; vinification; and sustainable agriculture and environment. Tutored tastings in both French and English will teach visitors about the cooperative’s range of wines, and tours of the winery and vineyards will also be available later in the year.
The centre includes a shop, which will sell up to 96 different wines made by the Mont Tauch cooperative, including rare vintages, premium products, vins doux naturels and bag-in-box wines. In addition, visitors will be able to purchase local produce and will have access to tourist information on the surrounding Fitou appellation.
Katie Jones, UK Sales & Marketing Director at Mont Tauch, comments, “We decided to build a visitor centre and offer tours and tastings as wine tourism is something that we feel is very important and works well in other countries, but France has so far lagged behind. We think the new centre and shop will be a great way to attract more visitors to Mont Tauch and to introduce them to our wines and the unique way of life at the cooperative.”
Mont Tauch also has a good informative website about the wines and the region - see www.mont-tauch.com
In the UK numerous merchants stock these wines - e.g.Majestic Wine, who offer Fitou AC Les Hauts de Montluzy from £4.49 and the Fitou AC L’Exception from £9.99.“This characterful Fitou reveals rich, warming textures. Its lushness and power demands hearty food. ‘a powerful and seductive red with lovely fruit. Gutsy, well-balanced and complex.’ (Steve Pryer, ES Magazine) ‘A serious demonstration of Haut-Fitou’s potential.’ (Joanna Simon, The Sunday Times)”
Another very good co-operative in the region is at Embres-et-Castelmaure - about 12 miles south - making some expcetionally good Corbières AC wines - see MORE . In the area you can also explore the Cathar castles at Peyrepertouse and Queribus.
Jancis Robinson in the Financial Times (12 May 08) talks about the growing number of Brits who have followed their dream and bought a vineyard in France.
It is hardly surprising then that a substantial proportion of the hundreds of thousands of Brits who own French property have been tempted by the apparently bucolic life of a vigneron……
Are there any French winemakers left down there?
I asked Walter McKinlay, whose Domaine de Mourchon southern Rhône wines are some of the most successful from a British domaine, whether his Domaine de Mourchon wines were financially viable. He frowned. “Just about,” he said cautiously, then smiled. “But it’s a lovely lifestyle though.”
My own observation would be that it can be incredibly hard work and despite the attractions of the climate, landscape and the French way of life, it can also be very stressful. And as with all winemakers, a bad harvest, particularly in the early years can be devastating.
So, here’s our list of British vineyard owners (and 1 Irish couple) - that we are aware of (not an exhaustive list I am sure). Visits can be much more informative if the language is no barrier:-
Domaine de Laroux - Cotes de Gascogne, Armagnac (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) - Nick and Karen Kitchener
Chateau Haut Garrigue - Bergerac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) - Sean and Caroline Feely (the Irish couple running an organic vineyard also known as Wild Earth Vineyards)
Domaine de Fontenay - Cote Roannaise AC (42 Loire, Rhone-Alpes) - Simon and Isabelle Hawkins
Chateau Richard - Bergerac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) - Richard Doughty
Domaine de Merchien - Coteaux du Quercy and beer! (46 Lot, Midi-Pyrenees - David & Sarah Meakin
Clos d’Yvigne - Cotes de Bergeac, Saussignac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) - Patricia Atkinson
Chateau des Milles Anges - Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Cadillac AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Heather van Ekris
Chateau Lezongars - Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Philip and Sarah Iles
Chateau Teyssier - Saint Emilion Grand Cru AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Jonathan and Lyn Maltus
Chateau de Sours - Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Esme & Sara Johnson
Domaine Gourdon - Cotes de Duras AC (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) - John Coulthard
Domaine du Grand Mayne - Cotes de Duras AC (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) - Andrew Gordon
Domaine de Begude - Limoux AC (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon) - Catherine and James Kinglake
Domaine de Mourchon - Cotes du Rhone Seguret AC (84 Vaucluse, Provence) - Walter McKinley
Maison des Bulliats - Regnie AC Beaujolais (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) - Fred and Helen Lockwood
Chateau Méaume - Bordeaux Superieure AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Alan and Sue Johnson-Hill
Domaine a Sauvageonne - Coteaux du Languedoc AC, Vin de Pays d’Oc (34 Herault, Languedoc - Roussillon) - Gavin Crisfield
Domaine Sainte Rose - Vin de Pays d’Oc (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon) - Charles and Ruth Simpson
Chateau Bauduc - Bordeaux AC (33 Gironde, Aquitaine) - Gavin and Angela Quinney
Domaine Sainte Croix - Corbieres AC (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon) - Jon & Elizabeth Bowen
Chateau Monplaisir - Bergerac AC (24 Dordogne, Aquitaine) - David and Helen Baxter
The Aniane Wine Festival (34 Herault, Languedoc) (Salon des Vins d’Aniane en coeur du Languedoc) in the heart of the Languedoc takes place 22-23 July 2006.
Aniane is best known for two things - the home of Mas de Daumas Gassac (Aimé Guibert), and for a famous battle to keep out the US multinational Robert Mondavi who wanted to make wines in the village - mind you not just the usual run of Languedoc wines, but wines which could sell for £40+ per bottle- a battle won by an unlikely coalition of local farmers, ecologists, hunters, and communists who succeeded in killing the ambitious $7.5 million plan to acquire 120 acres of prime grape-growing land on an untamed Mediterranean hillside.
Mas de Daumas Gassac “produces an internationally renowned red. The 76-year-old Aimé Guibert eschews pesticides, harvests his grapes by hand, and traces the origins of his vines back to Palestine at the time of Jesus Christ. “The Mondavis will end up destroying our traditional artisans who make wine, just like McDonald’s is destroying French gastronomy,” Guibert thunders.”
It is a tough call, especially when you consider the plight of much of the French wine industry - good growers such as Guibert will always succeed, but the bulk growers who sell into the co-operatives are struggling to find a market for their “vins ordinaires”. Mondavi may have overturned traditions and dominated the local economy, but would probably have brought prosperity and employment.
However, this would be a good opportunity to taste the wines of the region - 30 or so producers will be showing their wines (including Mas de Daumas Gassac, Chateau Capion - and there is also an introduction to wine tasting for the uninitiated.
For more info see www.ville-aniane.com
Must be serendipity - yesterday finding out about the Truffle Festival at Uzes(30 Gard, Languedoc), and today hearing of the wines of the same town - the Vin de Pays Duche d’Uzes - what is more they are in the January Sale at Leon Stolarski Fine Wines (www.lsfinewines.co.uk). These wines come from an area which straddles the southern Rhône and the Languedoc (north of Nimes, west of Avignon) and features a blend of traditional Grenache and Syrah as well as a couple of Merlot and Cabernet-based reds. Don’t be put off by the lowly Vin de Pays appellation - Jancis Robinson has written of the wines from this area with high praise!
Leon Stolarski’s list has some other gems from the Languedoc, including Cotes de Brian (sounds like its from Monty Python but is actually from the western part of the Hérault département) which proffers an extraordinary blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Pinot Noir. Other gems come from Minervois Lavinière, Coteaux du Languedoc and Côtes de Roussillon.
- but you need to act soon to get hold of the bargains - and the sale finishes at midnight on 20 January 2006!!
