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

Guy Vanlancker, at Domaine La Combe Blanche, 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 superb value for money and show just how the best wines from this region have the ability to mature gracefully. 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." And if you need further convincing, take a look at some glowing write-ups on our media recommendations page. For more information on this fabulous producer, please see our winemakers page.

Domaine La Combe Blanche "La Vigne de l'Homme" 2003 - Minervois
Domaine_La_Combe_Blanche_Minervois_Vigne de l'Homme 2003_More

Vintage	2003
Region	Minervois, north-east of Carcassonne
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium bodied
Grapes	Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Red meats, game, cheeses, or even on its own.
Next day	Actually gets better after a day or two!
Drink	Absolutely perfect now, or to keep for 2 or 3 years
This shows what can be done with the traditional Minervois mix of old Carignan and Cinsault, with Grenache and Syrah, when made with such loving care by a winemaker of Guy Vanlancker's calibre. A wonderful expression of "cool-climate" Languedoc wine, gloriously fruity, with lashings of summer fruits, in a sweet and sour style that makes it just perfect to drink now. Superbly balanced, and with a finish that stays for ages. Brilliant value!

Price: £6.25 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche La Galine 2000 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine_La_Combe_Blanche_La_Galine_2000_Table

Vintage	2000
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)	13.5%
Food	Duck, game, steak, lamb, chicken
Next day	Still improving
Drink	Drinking well now, and will evolve over the next 5-10 years
Medium-deep carmine colour, with complex red and black fruits, violets, cigar box, toasty oak and a whiff of eau de vie. Quite rich, with complex bramble and black cherry flavours, allied to fine, soft tannins and a lingering, sweet and sour finish. Shades of Chateauneuf - only more interesting!

Price: £8.75 (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: £9.95 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Domaine La Combe Blanche "La Chandeliere" 2001 - Minervois La Liviniere
Domaine La Combe Blanche La Chandeliere 2001 table

Vintage	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
Deep purple colour, with a complex nose of bramble and black cherry fruit, with notes of cedar, freshly-dyed leather and mocha. Rich, tarry black fruits abound, with fine, chocolatey tannins and pronounced acidity. A wine of great structure and finesse that is only just starting to hit its stride. A cracking wine - possibly the best La Chandeliere to date.

Price: £11.95 (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 La Dournie 2005 - Saint-Chinian
Chateau La Dournie 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Saint-Chinian, north-west of Béziers
Colour/Style	Dry red, partly oak aged, partly aged in vat
Grapes	50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	12.5%
Food	Roast meats, vegetable and pasta dishes, game
Next day	Still fresh the next day
Drink	Now, or over the next 5+ years
Deep, bright purple with a carmine rim. The nose reeks of everything that is unique about the red wines of Languedoc - and Saint-Chinian in particular. Parma violetes, redcurrants, aromatic garrigue herbs and stoney minerality abound. The palate has a lovely core of redcurrant and cherry flavours, mouthwatering acidity and again that unique, schisty minerality. Though there is something of the rustic about this wine, it also possesses a great deal of charm. And although it really couldn't be confused with a wine from anywhere else in France (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter), it may well appeal to lovers of good village Burgundy. And oh, that nose!

Price: £7.60 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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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: £9.29 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Chateau La Dournie Elise 2003 - Saint-Chinian
Chateau La Dournie Elise 2003 Table

Vintage	2003
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	Still fresh the next day
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Deep purple colour, with a nose of strawberry, plum, violet and a hint of woodsmoke. These all carry through in the mouth, with extra layers of cherry, bramble and liquorice. Not quite so typical of the Saint-Chinian terroir (shades of neighbouring Minervois), but a gorgeous wine nevertheless - and just starting to open-out nicely!

Price: £10.75 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Chateau La Dournie Elise 2004 - Saint-Chinian
Chateau La Dournie Elise 2004 table

Vintage	2004
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	Still fresh the next day
Drink	Over the next 5 to 10 years
A deep, blood red core with a small(ish) carmine rim.The nose has fresh plum, bramble and dates, along with more of that hallmark Saint-Chinian terroir - garrigue herbs, violets and strong mineral influence. Further notes of tobacco and brioche put in an appearance, in what is a very complex and aromatic wine. The palate is concentrated and balanced, with rich, spicy (but not too sweet) bramble and cherry fruit wrapped in a blanket of fine, grippy tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Already a joy to drink, albeit a little young and tannic, this is another beautifully structured wine witha great future. A conservative estimate would be 5 to 8 years before maturity and a 10 to 15 year life span. Another absolute cracker!

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

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Chateau Saint Esteve Corbieres Cuvée Altair 2002
Chateau Saint Esteve Cuvee Altair 2002 Table

Vintage	2002
Region	Corbieres - south-west of Narbonne
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months
Grapes	Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Grilled/roasted red meats, game, cheese
Next day	Best drunk the same night
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 10 years
A deep purple coloured, full-bodied wine with a nose of toasty/coffee oak and bramble fruits. There is an attack of sweet, brambly fruit and spice in the mouth, countered by good acidity and pronounced, yet velvety tannins. Quite dry, but the fruit stays a long time on the finish. Yet to peak, and will be at its best in 2 or 3 years. Gold medal at the Paris Show in 2004 and starred in the Guide Hachette 2004.

Price: £12.50 (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.

Neffies Cuvé