Leon Stolarski Fine Wines
  [home] [up] [terms & conditions] [search] [view basket] [checkout] [e-mail us]  

 


"At a glance" wine list
Downloadable Price List
Wines by grower - alphabetical
Languedoc Red Wine
Languedoc White Wine
Roussillon Red Wine
Roussillon White Wine
South-West France Red Wine
South-West France White Wine
Provence Red Wine
Provence White Wine
Northern Rhone Red Wine
Southern Rhone Red Wine
Burgundy Red Wine
Beaujolais Red Wine
Loire White Wine
Loire Red Wine
Alsace White Wine
Germany Wine
Portugal Wine
California Wine
Rosé Wine
Sparkling and Sweet wines
Other Wines - Special Purchases
Mixed Case offers
Vinaigrier - make vinegar from wine!


Page header
Important: Please see foot of page for minimum order size, delivery times and charges.


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

Mailing list
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 >>>>
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 Tempranillo 2007 - Vin de Pays des Côtes 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:  £9.20 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Domaine La Combe Blanche Calamiac Terroir Cinsault 2007 - Vin de Pays des Côtes 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!

Tasting note by The Wine Gang - April 2010
"This Vin de Pays des Côtes du Brian displays an intriguing herb and briar character on the nose, the suggestion of damp woodland playing against modest berry fruit. The palate delivers a similar concoction of the mildly herbaceous flavours with berry fruits and good acidity giving some cut. Unusual and enjoyable. 87/100"
 
Price:  £9.20 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Domaine La Combe Blanche La Vigne de l'Homme 2006 - Minervois
Domaine La Combe Blanche La Vigne de l'Homme 2006 table
Vintage
 2006
Region Minervois, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style Dry red - medium bodied. 
Grapes Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.0%
Food Red meats, spicy sausages, spag bol, cassoulet
Next day
Keeps well for a day
Drink Now, or over the next 2 or 3 years
A bright ruby/blood red colour, with a mix of primary and secondary fruit aromas (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry), garrigue herbs and hints of polished wood and sous-bois. The palate shows sweet and sour red and black fruit flavours, spice and liquorice, with firm tannins and a nice lick of acidity. This is a robust, earthy wine, with plenty of tannic structure, which softens-out nicely after an hour in the decanter, but needs food to show its best  - a hearty winter stew or cassoulet would do very nicely!
 
Price:  £7.40 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

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. The palate has sweet, succulent fruit flavours, a hint of chocolate and a touch of spice, with nicely rustic tannins and juicy acidity. Notes of liquorice and tar develop later. Grippy and fairly full-bodied, but hugely fruity and well-structured, and with a few years of bottle age, it is just about perfect to drink now.
 
Price:  £8.65 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Domaine La Combe Blanche La Galine 2001 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine La Combe Blanche La Galine 2001 table
Vintage
 2001
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)
 14.5%
Food Duck, game, steak, lamb, chicken
Next day
Still really good
Drink Perfect to drink now, but no there's no hurry
Quite a mature colour, blood red at the core, with a wide, semi-transluscent ruby/amber rim. The nose has bramble, wild strawberry and orange peel, married to classy cigar box/polished wood aromas, not to mention garrigue herbs, cinnamon, cloves and eau de vie - imagine, if you will, a box of mixed fruits, herbs and exotic spices, left to infuse inside an old wardrobe(!) The palate is equally complex - rich and brambly, but imbued with a softness and lightness of touch borne of 9 years of maturity. It has all manner of crystallised fruit flavours, tea, orange, lovely acidity, fine tannins and a long, warm finish. Not that all those aged aromas and flavours mean that this is over the hill. Far from it - 2001 was one of the greatest Languedoc vintages in recent memory, and a wine as good as this certainly has the structure to go on for a number of years yet. It is just lovely, and reminds me yet again why Guy Vanlancker and his wines were such an inspiration for Leon Stolarski Fine WInes. Fabulous.
 
Price:  £11.20 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

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.

Tasting note by The Wine Gang - April 2010
"This Syrah-dominated blend spends 18 months in oak, and a sweet creaminess dominates the nose as the oak melds with lusciously ripe berry fruit, spice and a touch of tobacco. On the palate it is smooth and fruity, but there is an underpinning structure with spicy, grippy tannins and a warm earthiness. The fruit stays sweet in a modern-styled but lovely Minervois red. 90/100"
 
Price:  £14.20 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

The Domaine La Combe Blanche Six - Save £5
Domaine La Combe Blanche offer
Domaine La Combe Blanche A specially priced sample case, covering our current range of wines from the enigmatic Guy Vanlancker at Domaine La Combe Blanche. 85% of the vineyards are planted with the traditional southern varieties: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, which go into the Minervois and La Liviniere wines. The remaining 15% comprise Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Roussanne and Viognier, which are used to make some really excellent (and excellently-priced) Vins de Pays. The wines in this selection normally retail separately for £61.65.  This specially-priced 6 bottle case is offered at the special price of £56.65 (a saving of £5) and comprises the following wines;

1 x Calamiac Terroir Tempranillo 2007 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Brian
2 x Calamiac Terroir Cinsault 2007 Vin de Pays des Cotes du Brian
1 x Calamiac Terroir 2005 Minervois
1 x La Galine 2001 Minervois La Liviniere
1 x La Chandeliere 2004 Minervois La Liviniere
 
Price:  £56.65 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

Mailing list
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 >>>>


Page footer - delivery information and under 18 warning
Minimum order value, delivery charges, times and restrictions
We deliver only to UK and Northern Ireland addresses. The minimum order value is £75 (plus the delivery charge). You may of course choose a mix of any wines in our range. Orders between £75 and £200: delivery charge is £7.50. Orders over £200: delivery is free! (If your order is over £200, 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 £200) but with a small discount for orders over £200 - 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.