DH was buying a few wines this week and upon entering the store saw 'lots' of Languedoc. He commented upon this to the manager. The manager commented that wines of Languedoc were like Gallo wines.
I just read that this region is the biggest wine region in the world and produces a third of France's wine. He could have said that instead.
At any rate, there were lots of them, and inexpensive. Dee
It is a shame really that Languedoc wines are being marketed as cheap Vin de Pays almost as an answer to what France sees as "new world wines".
Because in fact where Languedoc excels in in high QPR top quality wines and some top end stars. True, these get lost in the sea of wine that comes from this French version of Puglia.
Being fortunate enough to live a 2 hour drive from Montpellier, I can tell you that the best of Languedoc is an order of magnitude better than a good Cotes de Provence.
Here are a few names to look out for. I will complete my work in progress for the FAQ on Languedoc in the next couple of weeks I hope (PROMISE).
Domaine de la Rectorie Domaine le Casot des Mailloles Domaine des Pensees Sauvages Chateau Mas Neuf Mas Jullien Domaine D'Aupilhac Domaine de la Marfee Domaine Lacroix Vanel Domaine de Peyre Rose Chateau de l'Engarran Mas Cal Demoura Domaine de la Sauvageonne Chateau St Martin de la Garrigue Domaine des Aurelles Prieure St Jean de Bebian Mas des Chimeres Domaine Clavel Domaine du Clos des Fees Domaine Gauby Domaine Sarda Mallet Domaine Ferrer Ribiere Frederique Vaquer Le Roc des Anges Clot de l'Oum Domaine Olivier Pithon Domaine Leon Barral Domaine Alquier Domaine de Pechigo La Preceptorie de Centernach Mas Amiel Le Petit Domaine de Gimios L'Oustal Blanc Clos Centeilles Chateau D'Oupia Chateau Ste Eulalie Mas Morties Domaine de l'Hortus Mas Foulaquier Domaine Cazes Domaine Rimbert Domaine la Madura Domaine de la Garance Grange des Peres Mas Daumas Gassac Roc d'Anglade
Speaking purely as a greedy consumer, I am somewhat grateful that the world at large doesn't recognize the quality of wines from the Languedoc. It's a lot like the status of the Rhone valley 20 years ago, when you could pick up a world class wine for 1/4 to 1/10 the price of a cru classé Bdx or Burgundy. For instance, I think that the wines of Ch. La Roque, D'Aupilhac or St. Martin de la Garrigue are all great examples and still very reasonably priced.
Mark Lipton
p.s. Thanks for putting together something on the Languedoc. Don't stress out about when it gets done.
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