‘30 Great Wines From The Languedoc Roussillon’ Tasting La Peira Tops The Languedoc In Neal Martin’s Wine Advocate and The Wine Gang's Notes

1. ‘30 Great Wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon’
tasting: La Peira tops the Languedoc in Neal Martin’s
Wine Advocate & The Wine Gang’s notes
Vendanges 2009 : After our first year of the wines being available. Further Harvest 2009 photos on
Flickr
‘30 Great Wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon, The Experts’
Choice’
In September of this year, Sud de France, the promotional body for the
Languedoc-Roussillon held a tasting dubbed ‘30 Great Wines from the
Languedoc-Roussillon, The Experts’ Choice’ at their London Cavendish
Square branch – one of their worldwide Maisons de la Région.
Seeing off some tough competition, (Daumas Gassac, Grange de Peres, Mas
Jullien, Peyre Rose, Château de la Négly) the La Peira 2006 was judged best
red for both the Terrasses du Larzac and Coteaux du Languedoc
appellations in both Neal Martin’s (Wine Advocate) and The Wine Gang’s
notes from the tasting.
While The Wine Gang (Tim Atkin, Anthony Rose, Joanna Simon, Olly Smith
and Tom Cannavan) seemed to be more positive overall in their
assessments (in comparison to Neal Martin), the tasting provided a rare
opportunity for UK tasters to try a wide variety of domaines from the
region, and in some cases the chance to sample some (not so easy to
find!) older vintages.
A selection (for the two appellations) from their tasting notes below.

2. Neal Martin’s full tasting notes (amongst many others) are on the Wine
Advocate (Wine Journal) Site
The Wine Gang’s full tasting notes (amongst many others) are on The Wine
Gang website.
Neal Martin’s Wine Advocate Tasting Notes for the Terrasses du
Larzac and Coteaux du Languedoc
Tasting Notes
2008 Mas Daumas Gassac Vin de Pays de Hérault 86
Simple nose that to be frank, does not really say much, with just some faint
hints of elderflower and pear. The palate is simple, quite elegant with
touches of grapefruit, lime and pear, but I cannot help feeling that this is a
little commercial, when I have encountered far superior vintages in the past.
Drink now-2010. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The
Wine Advocate, Inc.
2006 Château de la Négly La Falaise 86
A very ripe, earthy bouquet, well defined with touches of singed leather and
black pepper. The palate is ripe and rounded on the entry, smoky black
fruit, a touch of sur-maturité towards the finish just marring the overall
effect. Drink 2010-2013. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009
– The Wine Advocate, Inc.
2006 Château de la Négly La Côte 85
This is a little baked on the nose: touches of bacon fat and autumn bonfire
lacing the super ripe, glossy black fruit. The palate is opulent, very ripe with
a lot of glycerine. Kirsch, damson and a touch of white pepper on the fatty
finish. So-so. Drink now. Tasted September 2009 Copyright © 2001-2009
– The Wine Advocate, Inc.
2003 Domaine Alain Chabanon Coteaux de Languedoc L’Esprit de Font
Caude 87
A decent effort in a difficult vintage. A lifted nose of summer fruits,
marmalade and honey complemented by a hint of dried apricot. The palate
is full-bodied with bold tannins, earthy red-berried fruit with ginger and
lemongrass, then turning unexpectedly t a more tannic, austere finish (and
this is ’03???) Intriguing. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009
– The Wine Advocate, Inc.
2005 Domaine de Montcalmès Coteaux de Languedoc 88
This has a rather anonymous nose, despite some coaxing refusing to
deliver except some scorched earth/smoky scents. The palate is more
promising with clean, crisp red-berried fruit laced with garrigues, quite
elegant and well crafted but somehow coming across as rather timid and

3. disappears before we have a chance to become acquainted. Drink
now-2010. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The Wine
Advocate, Inc.
2006 La Peira en Damaisela Coteaux de Languedoc 90+
This is an impressive wine and I think it will get even better. A lovely, joyful
nose of blackberry, black olive tapenade and Provencal herbs that whisk
you straight to the South of France. Ripe and tannic, surprisingly primal,
tarry black fruit with an assertive, mouth-coating finish. This needs a little
time to coalesce but I appreciate its hubris and extrovert personality. Drink
2010-2015. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The Wine
Advocate, Inc.
1993 Domaine Peyre Rose Coteaux de Languedoc Clos des Cistes 87
A mature, open-knit nose with roasted herbs, autumn bonfire, thyme, white
fennel and a touch of fig. The palate is medium-bodied, probably
approaching the end of its drinking plateau with smoked meats, white
pepper and a touch of Chinese 5-spice towards the bittersweet finish.
Moderate length. Softening up in the glass. Fine. Drink now. Tasted
September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The Wine Advocate, Inc.
1998 Domaine Peyre Rose Coteaux de Languedoc Syrah Leone 85?
This has a very bretty, green pepper infuse nose that I dislike although the
palate is better, quite sharp in acidity, bacon and smoke, lacking a little
harmony. Wants to impress but difficult to love. Drink now. Tasted
September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The Wine Advocate, Inc.
2001 Mas de l’Ecriture Coteaux de Languedoc l’Ecriture 89+
A simple, sous-bois nose with a black fruits, a hint of salami and tomato
vine and…yes…a touch of Marmite! The palate is very nicely balanced with
wild strawberry, plum and a tang of marmalade, quite weighty on the finish
with grippy, rustic tannins and a touch of white pepper hanging around on
the aftertaste. I actually think this will get better with just another couple of
years bottle age. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The
Wine Advocate, Inc.
2005 Prieure St Jean de Bebian Coteaux de Languedoc 87
A light simply, slightly dusty nose with a touch of dried apricot. The palate
is sweet and ripe on the entry with savoury, meaty notes; grippy tannins, a
touch of sweaty saddle with a dry foursquare finish laced with Provencel
herbs. Not bad, but expensive for what it is. Tasted September 2009.
Copyright © 2001-2009 – The Wine Advocate, Inc.
2006 Domaine St Daumary Coteaux du Languedoc Asphodèle Pic St
Loup 89
The Asphodèle Pic St Loup has an attractive nose with lush black plums,
liquorices and a touch of melted tar, with just a touch of brett that merely

4. adds, rather than detracts from its complexity. The palate has a rich ripe
entry with chewy tannins, black plum, soy, roasted herbs and a touch of Hoi
Sin. Compact finish suggests this would benefit from another year in bottle.
Drink 2010-2015. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The
Wine Advocate, Inc.
2004 Domaine de la Grange des Peres Vin de Pays de l’Herault 88
This has a rather diffuse, leathery, earthy nose that is just a little loose-knit
for my liking, but the palate is gutsy and stout, dry tannic structure, irony,
very good weight on the finish. An uncompromising rustic Languedoc that
is full of character, but yearns to be accompanied by some hearty cuisine.
Drink now-2010. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 – The
Wine Advocate, Inc.
2001 Mas Jullien Coteaux du Languedoc 88
This has a leather, herbaceous nose with Asian spices, some ferrous
elements developing with aeration. Medium-bodied palate with racy acidity,
quite natural and fleshy with notes of sour cherry, game, damson, dried figs
with a spicy, lively finish that is just a little pointed at the moment. Very
fine. Drink now-2011. Tasted September 2009. Copyright © 2001-2009 –
The Wine Advocate, Inc.
The Wine Gang Oct 2009 Languedoc-Roussillon, The Experts’
Choice Oct 2009
Billed as a tasting of 30 Great Wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon, ‘The
Experts’ Choice’ , we selected our own favourites, and a few duds, from
what was by and large an excellent showcase for the quality and style of
wines, mostly red, but a smattering of whites too, of the South of France.
The Wine Gang – www.thewinegang.com
Dry Reds
La Pèira La Pèira en Damaisela 2006 93/100
A very fine red. This powerfully built spicy red from Rob Dougan, Karine
Ahton and Jérémie Depierre is dark in colour, big, rich and smoky in its
aromas, and packed with powerful concentrated blackberry and plum
fruitiness; the backbone is firm and serious, the oak polished, the
chewiness of the tannins indicating that food definitely needs to be on the
agenda here. The Wine Gang – www.thewinegang.com
Prieuré St Jean de Bébian Prieuré St Jean de Bébian 2006 93/100
Prieuré St Jean de Bébian has long been one of the great names of the
Languedoc and under the stewardship of former wine writer Chantal
Lecouty and Jean Claude Le Brun, it reached new heights of quality before it

5. was sold this year to the Russian tycoon with a porn star name, Dmitriy
Pumpyanski. It is unquestionably a sexy wine, with its aromatic notes of
fennel and anis, a fine, intensely flavoured and concentrated blend of black
fruit flavours and garrigue herb, its silky tannins finely balanced by fresh
acidity. The Wine Gang – www.thewinegang.com
Domaine Peyre Rose Clos des Cistes 1993 92/100
While Domaine Peyre Rose’s more farmyardy, younger 1998 Clos Syrah
Leone showed less well at this tasting, this red from former estate agent
Marlène Soria is remarkable for its age. With its smoky, evolved, slightly
earthy undertones, the fruit is sweet and cherryish, the tannins silky
smooth and although it’s slightly drying now, there’s enough complexity of
evolved flavour here to make this a really intriguing red. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Domaine de la Grange des Pères Rouge 2004 92/100
To call Laurent Vaillé a star of the Languedoc is almost an understatement
such has been his contribution to the more elegant side of Languedoc’s
reds since he started up on virgin territory in 1982, a stone’s throw from
Mas de Daumas Gassac, no doubt much to Aimé Guibert’s irritation. This
blend has a lovely raspberryish fragrance and juicy soft summer pudding
fruits in abundance, its elegant, almost Pinot Noir-like silkiness suffused
with spice and a lovely clarity of fruit quality. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Mas de l’Ecriture L’Ecriture 2001 92/100
Made by the meticulous Pascal Fulla, from a blend of Grenache, Syrah,
Carignan and Cinsault, each variety vinified separately, and often also aged
in different types of oak, this is a still youthful blend despite its age,
showing aromatic bright cherry and smoky bacon oak spice, juicy ripe
cherry and mulberry fruit with supple textured tannins and deceptive
concentration because of the elegant overall balance. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Domaine de Montcalmès Montcalmès 2004 91/100
Frédéric Portalié, who worked at Les Granges des Pères, and it shows, is a
winemaker who strives above all for elegance and this wine is a classic
example, almost a Pinot Noir in the Languedoc with its fragrant cherryish
perfume and the voluptuous curves of its supple sweet cherry and
strawberry fruit, finely balanced by fresh acidity, showing the hand of a
truly gifted winemaker. Not for fans of Parker-esque reds. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com

6. Domaine St Daumary L’Asphodèle 2007 90/100
Dark in colour, this richly fruited Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre blend
from Julien Chapel, in transition to organic viticulture near Pic Saint Loup, is
made in the modern style, showing nicely polished vanillin oak with dark
mulberry and blackberry fruit richness, powerful alcohol and a firm
backbone of tannins. The Wine Gang – www.thewinegang.com
Domaine Alain Chabanon L’Esprit de Font Caude 2003 89/100
There’s no doubt that Alain Chabanon is one of the Languedoc’s star
winemakers, and this blend from his 20 hectares of vines near
Montpeyroux with its kirsch cherry aromas and voluptuous sweet cherry
and strawberry fruit, mineral fresh finish and nicely polished with a thin
veneer of oak shows why. With its firm, dry tannins, a product of the
scorching heat of the 2003 vintage, it needs food. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Clos Marie Métairies du Clos 2006 89/100
There’s a strong, pungently oak side to the aromas of this well-made Pic St
Loup red from Christophe Peyrus and Françoise Julien, whose family used to
send the grapes to the local co-op. Biodynamic since 1992, it’s a source of
excellent reds like this blend made in a modern style, with plenty of oaky
maraschino cherry fruit sweetness, power and concentration, if a tad on the
oaky side and chunky on the finish. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Château de la Negly La Falaise 2006 87/100
This is a pleasingly approachable red from Négly , which also produces
some very expensive, low-yielding reds from its clifftop vineyards near la
Clape; this one may not have quite the stuffing of its grander counterparts
but with its garrigue notes and supple, spicy fruit plus a twist of bittersweet
chocolate, it finishes with nice fresh and juicy acidity. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com
Dry Whites
Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc 2008 92/100
This Languedoc blend from the renowned Aimé Guibert, a man never slow
to blow his own trumpet, is an exceptionally good dry white, a beautiful
ripe, apple and Poire Williams blend in which the apple, peach and pear
fruit is deliciously fresh and zingy but rich too, with juicy tropical citrusy
acidity and barely perceptible, poised oak. The Wine Gang –
www.thewinegang.com