Domaine Lafage, Centenaire, 2019, Languedoc, France
This white wine from Domaine Lafage in the Languedoc, France is made with Granache Gris and Granache Blanc and is quite good, even great in some ways. Bold, dry with plenty of length there are ripe citrus and honey flavours with a bit of minerality and green apple poking through. The bit I’m not some keen on is the grapefruit hints. Great wine for chicken, zesty salad or watching a sunset.
La Belle Angèle, Pinot Noir, 2021, Languedoc, France
A cheap pinot noir is always worth trying because to get a good one is hard and this one from La Belle Angèle from the Languedoc, France is cheap at £7.50. Dry, and easy drinking it’s OK but there’s too much sour cherry at the expense of structure and other flavours. Better when having with food, cheese in my case, it’s one to consider for a BBQ or party.
Domaine de la Jasse, 2011, Languedoc, France
We use to drink Domaine de la Jasse blend in the past like there was no tomorrow and for good reason. Its a classy Languedoc blend but at £12 a bottle it’s not going to break the bank. Dry with now, soft mellow tannins theres loads of ripe black fruit with notes of tobacco, chocolate coffee and hints of oak and vanilla. This just got better at 12 years old than I remember it.
This red from Languedoc is a pretty bold, tannic wine. Very dry with peppery notes and spice on the nose. You do get red fruit on the flavour front with reasonable fruit levels coming through but I would definitely recommend having this with food juicy steak or tomato pasta would be ideal.
At about £10 a bottle is decent value.
Calmel & Joseph, Les Terroirs, 2019, Languedoc, France
Made with Syrah Grenache and Carignan this is a full on red which packs plenty of aromas flavours. It’s a bold dry my red with decent hit of acidity. There’s aromas of tobacco and chocolate and and sour cherry, you’re getting additional flavours of BlackBerry and redcurrent.
At £12 a bottle us a bit expensive but it’s well made with good length.
The late Jessica with a bottle of Chateau Saint Martin, De la Garrigue, Gres de Montpellier, 2010, Languedoc, France.
This chateau Saint Martin is another cracker from the Loire. Dry with a great deep purple colour and Aromas of stewed plums, spice and caramel and these follow through into the flavours. The flavours are full with well integrated tannins and excellent length.
At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but you get what you pay for.
Domaine de Pouzac, Grand Jacquey, 2013, Languedoc, France
Domaine de Pouzac and its Grand Jacquey is a solid red wine from the Languedoc.
Dry with firm but soft tannins and aromas of black fruit and and earthiness, that at first puts you off but taste it and its a different matter. That smoothness is what puts this part from the rest. I had this with a tapas meat selection and it was a great balance.
At £15 a bottle its not cheap but its pretty good.
La Méridionale, Merlot, Syrah, Languedoc, France
The South of France produces lots of Merlot and Syrah red wines and this one from La Méridionale is typical.
Blackberry, plum and cherry and you primary flavours for this pretty simple but drinkable red. Its very Dry, has decent enough body and depth of flavour with tannins that are a little rough and pronounced. Its not bad but its a food wine. pair it with steak or a burger and it will go down very well. At £7 a bottle its decent value too.
A silver medalist at the Decanter world wine awards in 2018 this Domaine L’Argenteille, la Roche des Fees Terrasses Du Larzac red with 40% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, 30% Cardigan and 10% Grenache is quite a mouthful.
Big hit of red cherry and redcurrant on the nose that follows through on the taste with a little spice. It’s very dry and pretty bold with a decent amount of finish. It’s the dry cherry finish that seems to take over. Have with food, pizza or meat dishes and its good or wait a day for it to open up and become smoother to have on its own. £12 a bottle it’s decent value.
Domaine de l’Argenteille, Terrasses du Larzac, 2016, Languedoc, France
I love Languedoc rose wine, easy drinking and perfect for the summer and this is what this Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres rose wine is like.
Made with 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 30% Grenache noir this is a wonderful pale pink in colour with light fruity notes of wild strawberry and pink grapefruit. Its a fresh, crisp wine with light flavours of grapefruit and raspberry with a hint lemon. Its acidic and dry but the freshness brings these into line.
Pair this with a chicken or prawn salad for the perfect summer lunch and at about Eur7 a bottle it won’t break the bank.