Leon Stolarski Fine Wines
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Online Wine Shop  >  Wines by grower - alphabetical  >  Domaine La Combe Blanche - Minervois La Liviniere

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Domaine La Combe Blanche
Domaine La Combe BlancheGuy Vanlancker in l'Enfer vineyard - February 2004
Guy Vanlancker is one of the most innovative and quality-minded producers in the Languedoc. He produces a range of Vins de Pays, Minervois and Minervois La Liviniere wines that represent excellent value for money and show how the best wines from this region have the ability to mature gracefully.

Guy is a Belgian former schoolteacher, who moved to the south of France in the late 1980's, in search of a complete change in lifestyle. He bought some old vines and, at vintage time, took the grapes to the local co-operative. Eventually, he bought some equipment and began to make a little wine himself. He now makes all the wine, in his own "cellar" (actually an old stone building, on three levels, crammed with barrels, vats and other winemaking equipment). The cellar is situated in the centre of the village of La Liviniere, in the heart of the "appellation" to which the village lends it's name - Minervois La Liviniere.

A cold February day in the l'Enfer vineyard, with the hills of Haut Languedoc in the background First sign of spring in the La Liviniere vineyards With some of the best vineyard sites, situated on hills above the village, the area in production at La Combe Blanche is now around 15 hectares. Yields are low, ensuring full flavours and good concentration in the wines. (For the technically minded, average yields in Languedoc average 50-60 Hectolitres per hectare. At La Combe Blanche, yields average around 30 h/l ha).

Guy Vanlancker and Diane Stolarski tasting barrel samples in the cellar - August 2003 The red Minervois and La Liviniere wines are blended from the traditional southern grape varieties of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. Each variety is vinified and aged separately, some in oak barrels and some in vat, before blending and bottling. The La Liviniere wines are usually released at three years old, whilst the Minervois are released a little earlier. Guy also has Roussanne, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo, from which he makes a varity of brilliant Vins de Pays. He likes to experiment, so he makes different cuvées in different years, depending on the style and quality of the vintage. 

In her book "The Wines Of The South Of France", Rosemary George M.W is fulsome in her praise when describing a tasting session in M.Vanlancker's cellar of various vintages of the different wines. She finishes by saying... "There is no doubt that Guy Vanlancker deserves greater recognition, for his wines are stylish and individual."  We couldn't agree more. Try them for yourself and see what great terroir and top-class winemaking can achieve in the Languedoc.
Domaine La Combe Blanche Calamiac Terroir Roussanne Viognier 2007 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Brian
Domaine La Combe Blanche Roussanne Viognier 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
 Domaine La Combe Blanche Roussanne Viognier 2005
Region Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian, in the Minervois
Colour/Style Dry white - medium to full bodied. Aged 6 months in oak
Grapes Roussanne and Viognier
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.5%
Food Seafood, fish, chicken and spicy oriental dishes
Next day
As good
Drink Over the next 2 to 3 years
Lovely pale/mid gold colour.The nose has peach, apple and Seville Orange, with notes of honeysuckle, anise and a hint of oak vanillin. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with flavours of quince, lemon and lime and a gentle honeyed/creamy quality, followed by a lingering, spicy finish.

Tasting note by The Wine Gang - March 2009
"This wine from the wonderfully named Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian has a certain smoky, flinty quality, with fat lemony fruit and a hint of something more tropical. On the palate it is quite full and quite powerful, with a broad base of orchard fruit flavours and good acidity. It is dry, and finishes savoury and quite lean, with a touch of oaky weight. 88/100"
 
Price:  £8.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche Calmiac Terroir Rosé 2007 - Minervois
Domaine La Combe Blanche Rosé2007 table
Vintage
 2007
 Image to follow
Region Minervois, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry rosé - light/medium bodied
Grapes Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 12.5%
Food Mixed salads, light fish dishes, or just on its own
Next day
As good
Drink Now, or over the next 2 or 3 years
Made by the saignée method (an early free run of juice from the grapes used for the Minervois red wine) with a delightful pale salmon pink colour. The nose has strawberry, raspberry and peardrop aromas with a hint of peach. The palate is very fruity but bone dry, with flavours of summer fruits, citrus and a hint of peppery spice. It has refreshing acidity, and a very long, slightly peppery finish. A cracking rosé from one of the finest growers in the Minervois.
 
Price:  £7.80 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche Calamiac Terroir Tempranillo 2007 - Vin de Pays des Cotes du Brian
Domaine La Combe Blanche Tempranillo 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian, in the Minervois
Colour/Style Dry red - medium-bodied.
Grapes 100% Tempranillo
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.0%
Food Grilled peppered steak or lamb, duck, game, pasta
Next day
As good
Drink Now, or over the next 3 to 5 years
Bright, deep purple core, fading to a ruby rim. The nose is pure heaven - cherry, bramble and plum aromas with notes of chocolate and eau de vie. And the palate is absolutely delicious - fresh black and red fruits, like summer pudding in a glass. Although 100% Tempranillo (a very rare grape in Languedoc) there is something almost Chateauneuf-like about this wine. The fresh fruit is countered by a baked fruitcake richness - quite contrary, with a cetain warmth (but not heat) on the finish. Fabulous balance and structure, with fruit, tannin and acidity in perfect harmony. Whilst not particularly complex, this is worthy of contemplation. It may even age nicely, but why wait? It is utterly delicious right now. A lovely wine!
 
Price:  £8.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche Calamiac Terroir Cinsault 2007 - Vin de Pays des Cotes du Brian
Domaine La Combe Blanche Cinsault 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian, in the Minervois
Colour/Style Dry red - medium-bodied.
Grapes 100% Cinsault
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.5%
Food A great all-rounder - red/white meats, pizza, pasta, risotto
Next day
As good, as long as you refrigerate it overnight
Drink Lovely now, or over the next 2 to 3 years
It is very unusual to find a varietal (i.e. 100%) Cinsault, since it is usually considered to be more suitable as a blending component in red (and more often rosé) wines from Languedoc and the southern Rhône. But this one is certainly a worthy example of its kind. It is a quite deep ruby colour, bordering on purple, with a relatively narrow rim. The nose is an uncomplicated riot of brambly fruit, with some spicy, herby notes lurking in the background. And the palate is also packed with bramble and cherry fruit, making for a ripe, generous and very juicy mouthful. Relatively soft tannins and mouth-watering acidity, combined with a dollop of southern warmth and spice, all adds up to a lovely drop - which really hits the spot on a cold winter's evening!
 
Price:  £8.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche Calamiac Terroir 2005 - Minervois
Domaine_La_Combe_Blanche_Minervois_2005_table
Vintage
 2005
Region Minervois, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry red - medium/full bodied
Grapes Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.0%
Food Red meats, game, cheeses, or even on its own.
Next day
Still good
Drink Drinking now, or keep for 5 years or more
A lovely nose of plum and bramble, with herby garrigue flavours. Sweet, succulent fruit, with notes of chocolate. Slightly rustic tannins and juicy acidityNotes of liquorice and tar develop later. Quite grippy and full-bodied, but hugely fruity and together. Give this a year or two and it will really begin to sing.
 
Price:  £7.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche La Galine 2003 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine_La_Combe_Blanche_La_Galine_2003_Table
Vintage
 2003
 Image to follow
Region Minervois La Liviniere, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry red - medium/full bodied. 18 months in oak
Grapes 40% Syrah, plus Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Duck, game, steak, lamb, chicken
Next day
Still improving
Drink Drinking well now, and will evolve over the next 5-10 years
Deep purple core with a dark ruby rim. Underneath the layers of uber-ripe black cherry, bramble and cassis fruit, there are discernible hints of violet and peony and subtle notes of leather, chocolate and vanilla. There are also strong hints of undergrowth. Although slow to come out of its shell, this gets more and more complex after a few hours in the decanter and positively sings on day 2. Although an entirely different animal from the previous (2000) vintage, it is nonetheless a lovely wine, with a good few years of development left in it. Fabulous wine and great value, too.

Tasting note by The Wine Gang - March 2009
"There's quite a seductive perfume here, with a hint of gaminess and sweet, damp earth, as well as plenty of autumnal berry fruit. On the palate it is creamy and rich, with full, sweet fruit, fine tannins and good balancing acidity. Delicious and will cellar. 90/100"
 
Price:  £10.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche Clos du Causse 2001 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine_La_Combe_Blanche_Clos du Causse_2001_Table
Vintage
 2001
 Clos du Causse 2001
Region Minervois La Liviniere, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry red - medium/full bodied. 18 months in oak barrels 
Grapes 60% Syrah, 10%Grenache, 30% Cinsault.
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Duck, game, beef, lamb
Next day
As good
Drink Now, or over the next 5-10 years
Dark purple, semi-opaque, with a complex nose of red/black fruits, and well-integrated espresso oak. Masses of baked fruit flavours (bramble, raspberry, dark cherry) with dark chocolate and  firm, but ripe tannins. As with many of the 2001's, drinking well already, but with the capacity to age and improve for some years yet.
 
Price:  £10.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche La Chandeliere 2004 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine La Combe Blanche La Chandeliere 2004 table
Vintage
 2004
 Domaine La Combe Blanche La Chandeliere 2001
Region Minervois La Liviniere, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry red - full bodied. 18 months in oak barrels
Grapes 75% Syrah, 15% Grenache, 10% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Fillet steak, roast beef or lamb, game
Next day
Still improving
Drink Starting to drink now, will evolve over next 5 to 10 years
A lovely, deep, blood red core, with a tiny ruby/pink rim. The nose offers aromas of rich black fruits, herbs, spices and Christmas cake, with subtle notes of cedar and leather. After some time in the glass, some attractive undergrowth aromas begin to appear. The palate is packed full of rich, sweet, spicy bramble fruit flavours, earthy but soft tannins and dark chocolate, and is given extra lift by a note of bitter cherry kernel. A backbone of very decent, ever-so-slightly-volatile acidity and a long, tangy, warm finish complete the package. Another really super La Chandeliere - top notch Minervois, with a nod towards Gigondas.
 
Price:  £13.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

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Our list is constantly evolving, so if you would like to receive our occasional e-mail newsletter (around 8 times per year) click the logo >>>>


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Minimum order value, delivery charges and times
The minimum order value is £50 (plus the delivery charge). You may of course choose a mix of any wines in our range. Orders between £50 and £175: delivery charge is £6. Orders over £175: delivery is free! (If your order is over £175, please remember to change the delivery charge in checkout to £0.00). Please note: Delivery to non-mainland addresses (Scottish Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, etc.) is usually possible, but may not be on a next-working-day basis. It is also more expensive than delivery to mainland addresses, so will be charged at cost (for orders under £175) but with a small discount for orders over £175 - please call us for a quote.
Warning - you must be aged 18 or over
It is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol if you are under the age of 18. (Section 149 Licensing Act 2003). We reserve the right to seek proof of age. Leon Stolarski says "drink less, but drink better!" Please consume alcohol in moderation.