Coteaux du Languedoc: generally good value? Why?

no it is not a coincidence...

For years wines from the Languedoc where considered nothing more than simple table wines and most of them where. The last decade new winemakers started to appear in the Languedoc taking over vineyards with potential to deliver high quality wines.

More and more high quality wines are being produced in this region. The reason that the price is still very low for the quality provided is the lingering bad reputation of languedoc being a commercial table wine region. This is changing rapidly though and some wines of the better known high quality Languedoc domains are getting more difficult to get a hand on and are also rapidly going up in price.

So enjoy the bad rep discount you get on Languedoc wines as long as it's there.

It also works the other way around... there are a lot of bad wines being produced in the Bordeaux region but because of the region's reputation the prices for these wines are way too high compared to the quality delivered.

I think one of the best examples of this is the "Mouton Cadet" by Baron Philippe de Rothshild which is much too pricey for such an uninteresting wine, only profiting on the Mouton / Rothshild name and reputation of the worldfamous Chateaux Mouton Rothshild wine (which is superb I must admit)

Bas

Leo Bueno schreef:

Bas,

I absolutely agree with your explanation.

In subregions of the languedoc such as AOC Pic St Loup you can find jewels. Most of the winemakers there have a good basic wine which is ment for the large scale sales and export, the one Leo is writing about chateau L'euzière is from this AOC, and besides that have smaller productions of real quality wines that are mostly sold within their region or to people in the countries around France (mostly belgium, netherlands, germany and UK).

I would strongly advise you all to try some of these jewels if you have the chance to get them.

Some suggestions ?

Here they are :

- Domaine Clos Marie from which the "normal wine" is "olivette" - but try to lay your hand on "Simon" or "Les Mètairies"

- Domaine Lavabre from which the "normal wine" is the same name - but try to lay your hand on "Mademoselles de Lavabre" or even better "Chateau Lavabre"

- Domaine de l'Hortus with "Bergerie de l'Hortus"

- Domaine Mortiès with "Jamais content"

- Chateau Laroque with "Cupa Numismea" or their 100% Mourvèdre bottles etc....

Some of these bottles are sold as futures otherwise you can't even get them. I personally with some family just bought Clos Marie Simon bottles 04 that will be delivered end of 05. You can find them at a rate of 12 to 15 euro per bottle as a future, later in the shop they will be sold between 25euro and 35 euro. (1 euro = 1.3 USD)

If you live on the other side of the ocean you will almost be obliged to get in touch with people living in this area to be able to get these bottles. People in the neighbouring countries will be able to find some of these wines in their specialised stores.

If you want to know more or need some adresses of people exporting wine out of this region don't hesitate to contact me, I will try to help you further.

Bye,

Xavier

"Bas van Beek" a écrit dans le message de news: co9t1b$be2$ snipped-for-privacy@news.cistron.nl...

Recent vintages have been too oaky for my tastes.

I very much agree with this suggestion.

No, Kermit Lynch imports Ch. Laroque to the US, and L'Hortus and Mortiès are also available in the US.

Some other wines from the Languedoc that I've had and liked:

Ch. St. Martin de la Garrigue (especially the cuveé "Bronzinelle") Dom Clavel (La Copa Santa) Iche "Les Heretiques" Ch. D'Oupia

and, if you can find it and have the money, La Grange des Peres.

Also, while not a part of the Languedoc, the neighboring Costieres de Nimes offers more great values in red wines -- and IMO increasingly also with whites.

Mark Lipton