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Online Wine Shop  >  Wines by grower - alphabetical  >  Domaine de La Marfée - Coteaux du Languedoc

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Domaine de La Marfee
Domaine de La Marfee
With a backgound in accountancy, Thierry Hasard came relatively late to winemaking, making his first wines in 1997. He farms 9 hectares of vines, on a dozen or so different plots near the village of Murviel Les Montpellier, a few kilometres west of Montpellier itself. Murviel is located on a hill, with views of the Mediterranean about ten kilometres away. Here, prehistoric men lived and the Romans built a temple and an oppidum, from which the name of the village originates: "mur viel", meaning "old wall".

Thierry currently makes five wines - a white and four different reds. I've had the opportunity to taste one or two older wines from La Marfée in recent years (the top cuvées, Les Vignes Qu'On Abat and Les Champs Murmurés, both from the late 1990's) so I know how good they can be and how ageworthy they are. But having never tasted them young, I didn't really have any idea what to expect. But these young wines are, without exception, brilliant. There's no other word to describe them, in my humble opinion. I am completely bowled over by them. The white is up there with the very best I have tasted from Languedoc. And the reds all have one particular thing in common, whatever the blends or varieties - and that is a depth of fruit which I find hard to describe. The nearest descriptor I can think of is fruit pastilles (especially the red and black ones) with a rich, deep flavour, like ultra-ripe raspberries and blackcurrants and a curious (but compelling) hint of elderflowers - and always with a mouth-watering lick of acidity.

Thierry Hasard has been quoted as saying that he believes terroir is more important than grape variety. Whatever it may be down to (I think it is probably a blend of great terroir, top-notch viticulture and damn fine winemaking) there appears to be a clear style to these wines, and one that I find very easy to fall in love with. As with Mas Foulaquier (whose wines we also now list), it wasn't until later that I discovered that Domaine de La Marfée is biodynamic. Which I guess should not have come as a surprise. As I have said before, whatever you think of biodynamicism (extreme organics or just plain whacky) it is a philosophy which does tend to go hand-in-hand with a healthy respect for the land and a fastidious approach to winemaking. And when the wines are this good, you can't help but believe in it.

I have also written a couple of in-depth entries on my Blog about Domaine de La Marfée - namely a much more in-depth commentary on Thierry Hasard's viticultural and winemaking philosophy, and a report from my visit to La Marfée in June 2011.
Domaine de La Marfée Frissons d'Ombelles 2007 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Domaine de La Marfee Frissons d'Ombelles 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry white - medium-to-full bodied
Grapes 70% Roussanne, 30% Chardonnay, aged in oak for 1 year
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 13.0%
Food All manner of fish, chicken, mushroom dishes
Next day
Not yet tested
Drink Now, or over the next 3 to 5 years
Limpid light straw colour, leading to a water rim. The nose is very expressive, with notes of lime and apricot and toasty oak, along with some herby, floral and woodsmoke nuances and a touch of flinty reduction. The palate is full of mineral character, with flavours of stone fruits, citrus and spice. The texture has a slightly oily feel to it, though there is a minerally depth, allied to really zingy acidty - a hint of richness, but delicate at the same time. If I were to taste this blind, I might think it was a very young northern Rhone or even Burgundy. That said, it is very primary at the moment, and needs another year or two in bottle for all the elements to begin to knit together and for the oak to soften. A potentially great wine, though, and one of the best whites I have tasted from Languedoc. Biodynamic.
 
Price:  £15.30 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Les Gamines 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
Domaine de La Marfee Les Gamines 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - full bodied, aged 2 years in barrel. Biodynamic.
Grapes 50% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre and 10% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Mediterranean vegetable dishes, chicken, pizza
Next day
Almost as good
Drink Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
Semi-opaque purple/red colour, fading to a narrow ruby rim. The nose gives off notes of black and red fruits, notably blackcurrants and cherries steeped in eau de vie and infused with garrigue herbs. There are also some enticing woody aromas, reminiscent of polished mahogany, with background notes of tobacco, cocoa and allspice. The palate entry is all about those wonderful blackcurrant and cherry flavours, which coat the mouth before the fine-grained tannins kick in, countered by a healthy lick of acidity. The herby and spicy notes, combined with the lush fruit flavours and a hint of dark chocolate give this wine a certain sweet and sour quality. And that whiff of eau de vie on the nose is obviously a sign of complexity, because the finish is elegant, fruity and spicy, rather than warm and alcoholic, with nary a hint of rusticity. In fact, this is a very fine, complex, captivating wine - and it can only get better!
 
Price:  £13.79 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Della Francesca 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
Domaine de La Marfee Della Francesca 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - medium-to-full bodied
Grapes 85% Mourvedre and 15% Syrah
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Red meats, stews, game, duck
Next day
Not yet tested
Drink Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
Semi-transluscent mid-purple colour with a narrow rim. This again has the trademark Marfée nose of blackcurrant leaf and fruit pastille, with hints of elderflower, polished wood and spice. Subtle hints of mint, violets and eau de vie make for another complex and very lovely wine. The palate is of medium weight with wonderful freshness, with lemony acidity and tangy, sweet-sour fruit flavours. The tannins are grippy, but fine-grained. There are some interesting herby/spicy notes on the finish, which is long and mouth-watering. Although lovely to drink already, this is a wine that promises to get better and better over the next 5 to 8 years.
 
Price:  £18.35 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Les Champs Murmurés 2000 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Domaine de La Marfée Les Champs Murmurés 2000 table
Vintage
 2000
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - full bodied
Grapes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre from old vines
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Rib of beef, rich stews, game
Next day
Still fine
Drink Now, or over the next 5 to 10 years
Although now 10 years old, this wine still looks remarkably young, exhibiting a fairly deep purple/red colour, and showing only slight signs of age on the narrow, raspberry-coloured rim. This wine contains a proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (which the current wines do not) which means that it had to be labelled as a mere Vin de Pays. Nevertheless, as with the current crop of wines, the nose displays that trademark Marfée nose of crystallised red and black fruits, elderflower and blackcurrant leaf. There are also some savoury, earthy notes, mixed with exotic spices, old leather and cigar box. It really does have the whiff of a truly fine wine - in fact, the more you smell it, the more complex it gets. The palate is simply packed full of concentrated, ripe bramble and blackcurrant fruit, with some savoury, herby garrigue notes and grippy but fine, spicy tannins, offset by juicy acidity. The finish is dry, but laced with spicy, tangy, almost sweet and sour orange peel and black cherry flavours - and it is very long, too. The complexity of this wine is something to behold, and although it is lovely to drink now, I feel it has the stuffing (and the fruit) to age for at least another 5 years before it reaches its peak. It really is a fabulous wine, and does nothing to alter my opinion that Domaine de La Marfée is one of the Languedoc's finest estates - albeit still a very well-kept secret.

Here is a note from Jamie Goode at The Wine Anorak (2005);
"Smoky, slightly roasted nose: savoury, spicy and quite complex. The palate is dense but supple with nice savoury structure and good concentration. Great balance and good acidity. Quite a big wine. 92/100."
 
Price:  £24.00 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Les Champs Murmurés 2001 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Domaine de La Marfée Les Champs Murmurés 2001 table
Vintage
 2001
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - medium-to-full bodied
Grapes Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre from old vines
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.5%
Food Rib of beef, rich stews, game
Next day
Still fine
Drink Now, or over the next 5 to 10 years
Like the 2000 (above) this wine shows little sign of age, with the same dense, purple red core and narrow raspberry rim. And like the 2000, it displays that trademark Marfée nose of crystallised red and black fruits, elderflower and blackcurrant leaf, but this time with a hint of red meat, eau de vie and polished wood. If anything, it is even riper and more opulent, again with those beautifully savoury, earthy notes, exotic spice, old leather and cigar box, but with a pungency and sweetness of fruit typical of the classic (i.e. hot) 2001 vintage. It has a half degree more alcohol than the 2000, but the ripeness of the fruit and the spicy yet velvety tannins make it feel very balanced, despite a slightly lower level of acidity. The finish has a sweet and sour edge, with flavours of red cherry, raspberry and warming spice. Slightly more Chateauneuf in style than the full-on Languedoc style of the 2000, but a beautiful wine nevertheless. Oh, and the acidity actually get more pronounced with time in the glass, which only serves to heighten the experience. Another lovely wine, from a very (very) fine winemaker.

Here's another note from Jamie Goode at The Wine Anorak (2005);
"Lovely perfumed intensity to the nose: ripe, sweet and full, displaying sweet liqueur-like black fruits. The palate is concentrated, full and dense, showing supple, slightly sweet fruit with some smoky, spicy complexity. A big, lovely wine. 93/100."
 
Price:  £24.00 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Les Champs Murmurés 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
Domaine de La Marfee Les Champs Murmures 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - medium-to-full bodied
Grapes Syrah and Mourvedre from very old vines
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Rib of beef, rich stews, game
Next day
Not yet tested
Drink Now, or over the next 5 to 10 years
Deep purple at the core, with a narrow ruby rim. This wine has a truly compelling nose, with dark fruits galore, mixed with herbs and spices, tobacco and polished wood. This is probably the most backward of all the Marfée reds, but may also be the most complex and complete. It is so tightly-knit and "together", with dark fruits, herbs and spices combining beautifully into a fruity, savoury whole. It is perhaps a touch closed, when compared to Les Vignes Qu'On Abat, but oh-so complex. Like the other wines in the Marfée range, it is medium-to-full, rather than being a heavyweight and - even at this early stage in its development - there is a good deal of elegance. This wine is going to age beautifully, over many years. A stunner of a wine.
 
Price:  £24.50 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine de La Marfée Les Vignes Qu'On Abat 2007 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
Domaine de La Marfee Les Vignes Qu'On Abat 2007 table
Vintage
 2007
Region Saint Georges d'Orques, west of Montpellier
Colour/Style Dry red - full bodied, aged for 2 years in oak barels
Grapes 100% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)
 14.0%
Food Beef, lamb, duck, perhaps even a spicy tagine
Next day
Still going strong
Drink Now, or over the next 8 to 10 years
Semi-opaque medium-deep purple colour, leading to a very narrow ruby rim. Raspberries and blackcurrants leap from the glass, with myriad other aromas, including strawberries and cream, garrigue herbs and even a hint of elderflower. Although aged in oak for 2 years (mostly older oak, with just a small percentage of new barrels used each year) there is just the merest suggestion of pencil shavings, with no obvious oak aromas - the sign of very skilful winemaking. The palate is medium-rich, with flavours of blackcurrant and cranberry, tar and spice, with hints of garrigue and an almost schiste-like minerality and remarkably ripe, velvety tannins. A touch of sweet fruit returns on the finish, which is spicy and long. This is another really fabulous wine, which is already surprisingly elegant and approachable. Indeed, it is a real testament to the potential of old Carignan vines (in the hands of the right winemaker, of course). Is this the Languedoc's top Carignan? Well, I have yet to taste a better one! Biodynamic.
 
Price:  £24.50 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

The Domaine de La Marfée Six - Save £10
Domaine de La Marfée
A specially priced sample case, covering our new range of wines from the brilliant (and biodynamic) Domaine de La Marfée - in our opinion, one of the very finest estates in the whole of the Languedoc. The wines in this selection normally retail separately at £120.44. This 6-bottle case is offered at the special price of £110.44 (a saving of £10) and comprises the following wines;

Dry white:

1 x Frissons d'Ombelles 2007 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault

Dry red:

1 x Les Gamines 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
1 x Della Francesca 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
1 x Les Champs Murmurés 2007 Languedoc Saint Georges d'Orques
1 x Les Vignes Qu'On Abat 2007 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
 1 x Les Champs Murmurés 2001 Vin de Pays de l'Hérault
 
Price:  £110.44 (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 >>>>


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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.