Leon Stolarski Fine Wines Languedoc Red Wine

Of all the more established A.O.C's in the Languedoc (created in 1985) Minervois is arguably the one that has made the greatest progress in establishing a reputation for fine wines. Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault are the traditional varieties, but Syrah is now much more predominant, with Mourvedre also used occasionally. Though the Minervois possesses a variety of different landscapes and "terroirs", with subtle differences in style, the best wines are always elegant and well-balanced, characterised by soft berry fruit flavours, liquorice and violets. The Minervois La Liviniere "cru" is a more recent creation that requires (broadly speaking) lower yields, more selective (usually higher) vineyard sites, greater emphasis on Syrah and longer ageing (often in barrel).
Jancis Robinson wrote in Wine Spectator – November 1996......
"Perhaps the single most exciting wine development I've witnessed this decade has been the transformation of the Languedoc from biggest (boo) to hottest (hooray) wine region in the world… for seriously exciting, terroir-laden, characterful, supple wines (mainly but by no means exclusively red)....."

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
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
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%)

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Saint-Chinian

A.O.C Saint-Chinian

Situated some way to the north-west of Béziers, on the fringes of the Haut Languedoc mountains, the vineyards of Saint-Chinian produce wines of great elegance and structure. Syrah, Grenache and Carignan are the main varieties used. These beautiful wines are characterised by soft berry fruits, infused with the scents and flavours of the hillside “garrigue” – typically violets, herbs and black olives. Chateau La Dournie is situated on the outskirts of the town of Saint-Chinian, with a large house and courtyard, set amongst the vineyards. The Guide Hachette describes the wines thus; "Continuity is assured with this sixth generation taking the reins at La Dournie, with these magnificent cuvées, by way of confirmation." The wines are distinctly refreshing, yet complex, and seem to conjure up that mysterious word "terroir", with a distinct regional style that could hardly be from anywhere else in the world.

Chateau Etienne La Dournie 2005 - Saint-Chinian
Etienne La Dournie 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Saint-Chinian, north-west of Béziers
Colour/Style	Dry red, aged for 10 months in oak barrels
Grapes	50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Roast red meats, vegetable and pasta dishes, game
Next day	Still fresh the next day
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Bright purple colour with a carmine rim. The nose is dominated by wonderful Syrah aromas - almost northern Rhone-like, with bramble and blackcurrant aromas complimented by notes of violets and lilies, cigar box, toasted brioche, vanilla custard, and even a hint of earthy barnyard. A very complex and alluring wine. The palate has bramble and cherry flavours, with some tarry, meaty notes and that trademark Saint-Chinian herby, mineral quality and fine acidity. This is already a stunner, but has all the ingredients with which to age and evolve beautifully over the next 5 to 8 years. Fantastic winemaking, and without doubt the best Etienne La Dournie I have tasted.

Price: £11.75 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Chateau Etienne La Dournie 2006 - Saint-Chinian
Etienne La Dournie 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Saint-Chinian, north-west of Béziers
Colour/Style	Dry red, aged for 10 months in oak barrels
Grapes	50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Roast red meats, vegetable and pasta dishes, game
Next day	Still fresh the next day
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Deep-ish, semi-opaque blood red colour with a narrow rim. As always, the nose is dominated by classic Saint-Chinian aromas of bramble, blackcurrants and raspberries galore, accompanied by violets and lilies, cigar box, brioche and intense herby, spicy notes - it really is packed with character. And the palate is just as intense and crammed full of those wonderful, minerally, fruity, herby, floral, black olive flavours of schiste-grown Syrah. Spicy, rich and warming, this wine simply oozes character and class, providing an effortless combination of restrained power and elegance. The wines from this estate just get better and better. A glorious wine, which is drinking beautifully already, but is sure to age gracefully for at least 5 years. And don't be put off by the fact that it was awarded a Gold medal at the 2009 Paris Show!

Price: £11.75 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Chateau La Dournie Elise 2007 - Saint-Chinian
Chateau La Dournie Elise 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Saint-Chinian, north-west of Béziers
Colour/Style	Dry red, partly aged in new oak barrels, the rest in vat
Grapes	80% Syrah, 20% Grenache (50 year old vines)
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Venison, roast beef, lamb, pork, cheese
Next day	Lovely
Drink	Over the next 5 to 10 years
A deep, blackberry-coloured core with a tiny carmine rim. The nose is incredibly fragrant and considerably complex. It has fresh plums, bramble and black cherry, along with more of that hallmark Saint-Chinian terroir - garrigue herbs, violets, black olives and a strong mineral influence from the schistous soils on which it is grown. Hints of tobacco, leather and brioche add even more interest. The palate is concentrated and balanced, with rich, spicy (but not too sweet) bramble and cherry fruit wrapped in a blanket of fine, silky tannins and mouth-watering acidity and a long, spicy finish. Those ultra-fine tannins make for a wine that is already a joy to drink, but this is another beautifully structured wine from Chateau La Dournie, with a great future. A conservative estimate would be 5 to 8 years before maturity and a 10 to 15 year life span. Another stunning wine from this, on of (if not the) greatest estates in the appelation. Awarded 2 stars in the Guide Hachette des Vins 2010.

Price: £14.25 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Chevalier Vins Concertino Faugeres 2005
Chevalier Concertino 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Faugeres
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium bodied
Grapes	40% Carignan, 35% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Red meats, pizza, cheeses, or even on its own.
Next day	Still good
Drink	Drinking now, or keep for 2 or 3 years
Opaque at the core, with a bright ruby rim.Bramble and cherry aromas with notes of tobacco and forest floor. Soft, rich and full of bramble and black cherry fruits, mouthwatering acidity and robust tannins. Gently spicy with a long, warming, bitter-sweet finish.

Price: £7.80 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine de Cébène Les Bancèls 2008 Faugères
Domaine de Cebene Les Bancels 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Faugeres
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied
Grapes	Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Red meats, game, mushroom risotto
Next day	Wow! - even better
Drink	Can be drunk now, but will age nicely for 5 to 8 years
Youthful purple in colour, leading to a small ruby rim. Fresh and crystallised fruits abound on the nose, with notes of polished leather and herbs (notably rosemary and oregano) and a whiff of eau de vie. The palate offers flavours of raspberry, cherry and blackcurrant, with herby, savoury, almost animal nuances. After a few hours, this wine really opens-up, revealing extra layers of fruit, redolent of blackberries and dates. It is actually more akin to a really elegant Châteauneuf than a Faugeres, but is nevertheless a seriously good wine. It possesses good underlying acidity, fine tannins and a touch of southern warmth on the finish. The following day, it is even better. Amazingly, I discovered a little left in the bottle almost a week after I had opened it and (curious to know how it had fared) I tasted it. What I discovered was a glorious mélange of cedar, kirsch, polished wood and bramble, with immense concentration - a rich, deep, long and complex wine. Which leads me to believe that (although delicious now) this will age spectacularly well over the next 5 to 8 years - possibly even more.

Price: £13.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine de Cébène Felgaria 2008 Faugères
Domaine de Cebene Felgaria 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Faugeres
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied
Grapes	50% Mourvèdre, 30% Syrah, 20% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Red meats game, mushroom risotto
Next day	Again, wow! - even better!
Drink	Can be drunk now, but will age nicely for 10+ years
OK, so this isn't cheap - but it does, in my opinion, bear comparison with some of the finest wines of southern France. A similar colour to Les Bancèls, but the classic schiste aromas are all present and correct and more typical of the soils on which this wine is grown, although the 50% Mourvèdre in the blend still makes its mark. All sorts of primary and secondary red and black fruit aromas abound, along with garrigue herbs, spices, sous-bois and eau de vie. With more air, more delicate, floral aromas appear, with background notes of vanilla and polished wood. At this stage in its development, it is even more complex, restrained and elegant than Les Bancèls. It has wonderful structure, too, with excellent acidity and extremely fine tannins and (despite the high proportion of Mourvèdre) has less animal/savoury nuances and more fresh fruit. As with Les Bancèls, I drank the last half-glass a full week after opening and it was sensational - liquorice, dark fruits, herbs and Christmas cake, yet still balanced, rich, soft and lovely. Another wine which is lovely now, but has years of graceful evolution ahead of it. This is really great Languedoc wine.

Price: £18.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Coteaux du Languedoc

A.O.C Coteaux du Languedoc

The Coteaux du Languedoc appellation covers a large area of the south, with many styles of wine being made, depending on regional "terroir" and the choice of grape varieties. The main grapes for the red wines are Syrah and Grenache, with Mourvedre also becoming more predominant. Carignan and Cinsault are also permitted, but are now less popular. Certain areas within the region are permitted to add their names to the appellation, such as Saint-Saturnin, La Clape, Pic St. Loup, Cabrières, Montpeyroux, etc. These are all areas which produce excellent wines, and we will be adding many more to our list, in the future. As well as many wonderful "private" estates, this is an area blessed with a good number of top-quality co-operatves, notably Les Vignerons de La Carignano in Gabian and the fantastic Coteaux de Neffies. We have tasted wines from this producer over many years, and the standard is extremely high - even better, perhaps, than the majority of independent growers. We also have brilliant wines from Domaine d'Archembaud, in Saint-Saturnin, and Alain Chabanon in Montpeyroux. These are two of the most northerly villages in the Languedoc region, producing "cool climate" wines of great complexity and elegance, which are approachable whilst young, but with the structure to age and improve for several years. We have also recently added a lovely Pic Saint-Loup from Mas Gourdou, a small domaine situated in the heart of the appellation, underneath the imposing Montagne d'Hortus, plus two wines from Domaine Ellul-Ferrieres, another top quality small grower, just to the north of Montpellier.

Les Coteaux de Neffies Hadrien 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pézenas
Neffies Hadrien 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Coteaux du Languedoc, north-west of Pézenas
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied
Grapes	30% Grenache and 70% Syrah, aged in cuve (no oak)
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Roasted or grilled red meats, chicken, pizza
Next day	Still going nicely
Drink	Over the next 3 to 5 years
Youthful deep purple core with a bright raspberry rim. Tremendously clean and pure on the nose, with fresh raspberry and blackcurrant aromas dominating, along with notes of undergrowth and cedar. Although Grenache accounts for only 30% of the blend, it is definitely the dominant variety here, on both the nose and the palate. It has great fruit concentration and the tannins are ripe, whilst the zingy acidity - as always with Neffies wines - makes for a beautifully balanced wine. Although quite young, it can be drunk with pleasure now, although there is certainly no hurry. The structure is certainly there for medium term ageing, and another 2 or 3 years should see it develop more secondary aromas and flavours. Lovely wine.

Price: £10.25 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Les Coteaux de Neffies Neffiez Baltazar 2004 Coteaux du Languedoc
Neffies Baltazar 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Coteaux du Languedoc, Neffies, north of Béziers
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied, aged in cuve (no oak)
Grapes	95% Syrah, 5% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Red meats and game with rich/fruity sauces, cheese
Next day	Excellent
Drink	Over the next 7 to 10 years
This wine is given a long (24 day) fermentation using the carbonic maceration (whole bunch) method, after which it is aged in vat, with regular micro-oxygenation. The result is a very dark, almost opaque, wine with a nose of violets, bramble, black cherries, olives and sweet/sour/balsamic notes, all carrying through in the mouth, with liquorice and blackcurrants, and chocolate on the finish. It is rich and ripe, yet beautifully poised, with great finesse and excellent length. With firm but fine tannins and great balance,this is a really top class Syrah that will age beautifully - and an absolute bargain.

Price: £11.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine d'Archimbaud Tradition 2007 - Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Saturnin
Archimbaud Tradition 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Saint-Saturnin, some way north-west of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium to full bodied, aged in cuve
Grapes	50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Grilled or roasted red meats, game
Next day	Still good
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Deep purple core, leading to a ruby/pink rim. Aromas of squished plums and blackberries steeped in eau de vie and a hint of vanilla. The palate is rich and powerful, with dark fruit flavours, good balancing acidity and fine, elegant tannins. There is also a touch of animal about it - savoury, spicy and garrigue flavours abound. The finish is warming and long, in a wine that smells and tastes like a top-notch Cotes du Rhone Villages. Drinking well now, though will certainly benefit from another year or two in bottle.

Price: £9.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine d'Archimbaud Robe du Pourpre 2006 - Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Saturnin
Archimbaud Robe du Pourpre 2006 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Saint-Saturnin, some way north-west of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium bodied, aged in oak for 11 months
Grapes	50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Grilled or roasted red meats, game, charcuterie
Next day	Getting better
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
Deep purple at the core, with a dark ruby rim. The nose offers complex aromas of bramble and blueberry, tar and woodsmoke, leather and spice, later developing pastille notes and eau de vie. This is quite Chateauneuf-like, with dense, dark fruit flavours and spicy, herby undertones. Tremendous depth of fruit, rich, chocolatey tannins and more than ample acidity give it great grip and lift. Still a little young and needs a year or two to soften out, but this has years ahead of it (possibly peaking in 5 to 8 years). Generous, rich, warming and long. This could be a classic. Now sold out - new vintage arriving February 2010.

Price: £12.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Mas Gourdou Joseph Onesime 2004 - Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Gourdou Joseph Onesime 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium-to full bodied, aged in oak barrels
Grapes	65% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Grilled or roasted red meats, game, cheese
Next day	As good
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
A nose of cherries, bramble, herbs and eau de vie, with hints of cigar box/cedar. The palate is dominated by rich, ripe red and black fruits, with notes of rosemary, thyme and bitter chocolate. Lovely acidity, gentle tannins and a long finish. A complex wine for the money.

Price: £8.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine Monplezy Plaisirs 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc Pézenas
Domaine Monplezy Plaisirs 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Coteaux du Languedoc, Pézenas
Colour/Style	Dry red, medium bodied
Grapes	A blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Grilled meats, roasted vegetables
Next day	As good or even better
Drink	Over the next 3 to 5 years
Deep purple core leading to a raspberry rim. Youthful and vibrant with aromas of fresh summer fruits, which carry through onto the medium-rich palate, which also offers notes of chocolate and herbs. Fresh and balanced with gentle tannins and juicy acidity. Nice concentration and excellent length, in a wine that is lovely to drink now. Will keep though, as evidenced by how nice it tastes 4 or 5 days after opening!

Price: £9.75 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Vins de Pays

There was a time when any French wine with aspirations to quality needed to conform to the strict (and these days increasingly outmoded) wine laws of the "Appellation d'Origine Contrôllée" (A.O.C). The most important - not to mention restrictive - factor has always been the pernitted grape varieties. No matter how good a wine is, if it is to qualify as A.O.C, it can only be made from the particular grape variety, or varieties, allowed by that A.O.C. The "Vins de Pays" denomination was created in the early 1970's, to enable wines made from "other" grape varieties to be made, free from the restrictions of the A.O.C, but with a level of quality way above mere "table wine" status. Vin de Pays d'Oc is the best "known" (and covers virtually the whole of Languedoc/Roussillon). Other VDP's may use the départment name (Hérault, Aude, Gard, etc) whilst many better and more innovative (though less well-known) wines are sold under the local VDP, which normally takes the name of a small river, town, other local feature or sub-region. Many of these wines (whether from a single variety or a blend of two or more) can be delicious, complex and, in some cases, truly world-class.

Chevalier Vins Lo Bosc Mourvedre 2004 Vin de Pays d'Oc
Chevalier Lo Bosc 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Vin de Pays d'Oc
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied
Grapes	100% Mourvedre
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Rib of beef, lamb chops, game, cheeses.
Next day	Still good
Drink	Drinking now, or keep for 5 to 8 years
Deep purple/black core with a raspberry rim, showing just a hint of age. The nose is a melange of red and black fruits, meat, leather, spice, tobacco and cedar, with a hint of lifting volatile acidity. The palate has sweet bramble and plum fruit, allied to meaty, savoury flavours, garrigue herbs and spice. Fine tannins and a backbone of juicy acidity carry all the way to a long finish. With a touch of maturity, everything is beautifully knit together in a sweet/sour/savoury wine with bags of interest. A lovely pure Mourvedre from a region not noted for such a varietal. A cracker.

Price: £13.75 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine de Cébene Ex Arena 2007 Vin de Pays d'Oc
Chevalier ExArena 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Vin de Pays d'Oc
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied
Grapes	Grenache and Mourvedre - partly oak-aged
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Roasted red meats, game, cheeses.
Next day	Still good
Drink	Can be drunk now, or aged for up to 10 years
Youthful medium red/ruby colour, leading to a pale-ish rhubarb rim. Promising aromas of red and black fruits, exotic spices and polished leather. The palate is open and expressive - blackcurrant, bramble and black cherry flavours mingle withdark chocolate and spice, wrapped in a cloak of gently warming alcohol and velvety tannins. This is a wine that develops remarkably after 24 hours in the decanter, with deeper aromas and flavours, developing minty, savoury, bloody notes, great balance and with a layer of juicy acidity coming to the fore - changing from a Chateauneuf-a-like to a classic Languedoc Grenache/Mourvedre. Fabulous stuff with a great future. Tasting note by The Wine Gang - September 2009 "The top red from Brigitte Chevalier’s estate - and it’s a big wine. The vines are 25 years old, yields are low and it’s partly barrel-fermented and matured. Its Grenache base gives concentrated herbal sweetness, while the 15% Mourvèdre lends its characteristic gamey-animal savour. No hurry to drink this once you’ve opened the bottle and no hurry to open the bottle. Ex Arena means ‘out of the sand’, as you knew of course. 89/100"

Price: £15.75 (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: £8.94 (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: £8.94 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Colombette Lledoner Pelut Demi-muid 2004 - Vin de Pays des Coteaux du Libron
Domaine La Colombette Lledoner Pelut 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Coteaux du Libron, just north of Béziers
Colour/Style	Medium bodied red, aged in oak demi-muids for 1 year
Grapes	100% Lledoner Pelut
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Red meat, game, cassoulet, stew, chicken, cheese
Next day	As good, or even better
Drink	Over the next 3 to 5 years - possibly more
Medium ruby/purple core, fading gently to a pink rim. Lledoner is a "hairy-leafed" close relative of the Grenache variety. Some say it is one and the same, but this one is more elegant and refined than any Grenache you will have tasted. Bright, ruby red with a bouquet of strawberries, cherries and raspberries, mixed with the scents of the garrigue. Flavours of sweet and sour cherries, with notes of raspberry and vanilla and mouth-watering acidity. A wine of great elegance and finesse - dare I say, with an almost Burgundian character. Brilliant stuff and even better than the 2003.

Price: £13.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine Monplezy Felicité 2005 Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue
Domaine Monplezy Felicite 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Cotes de Thongue, north of Pézenas
Colour/Style	Dry red, full bodied, aged in oak barrels for 1 year
Grapes	40% Carignan, 50% Grenache, 10% Syrah
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Roast beef or lamb, cheese
Next day	As good or even better
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Deep purple core leading to a tiny raspberry rim. The nose displays complex aromas of briary fruits and black cherry, with secondary notes of coffee, leather, tar, spice and forest floor and a nice lick of oak. The palate is rich and spicy and packed full of dark fruit flavours, with firm but fine tannins and excellent acidity. Very long and warming, this is a complex, structured wine, with the stuffing to age for a good 5 to 8 years more. Lovely now, though - and keeps fresh for days after opening.

Price: £13.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine Monplezy Emoción 2005 Vin de Pays des Cotes de Thongue
Domaine Monplezy Emocion 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Cotes de Thongue, north of Pézenas
Colour/Style	Dry red, full bodied, aged in oak barrels for 1 year
Grapes	100% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Fillet steak, rack of lamb, feathered game, cheese
Next day	As good or even better
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Impenetrable deep purple core with a tiny rim. Wonderful aromas of bramble, black cherry, coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Despite the colour, this is remarkably fresh and perfectly balanced in the mouth, with impressive concentration of black fruit and chocolate flavours. It has mouthwatering acidity and remarkably fine tannins. Immensely fruity and savoury, this is very moreish, with just the right weight - very fine wine. Although best enjoyed with food, it is actually very easy to drink on its own. How can I pigeon-hole it? Think of a fine young Claret, add in a dash of Chateauneuf and finish of with a large dose of rich, spicy, garrigue-infused Languedoc terroir. Multi-dimensional and utterly delicious. A fantastic wine.

Price: £17.99 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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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.