Leon Stolarski Fine Wines Mas Foulaquier - Pic Saint-Loup

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Online Wine Shop > Wines by grower - alphabetical > Mas Foulaquier - Pic Saint-Loup

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Mas Foulaquier

Mas Foulaquier

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Mas Foulaquier is a Pic Saint-Loup grower that had - until recently - flown completely under my radar. This is a fairly young estate, which winemaker Pierre Jéquier, a native of Switzerland and formerly an architect, discovered in 1998 after a long search for his dream wine domaine. When Pierre bought the estate (situated in the most northerly corner of Languedoc's most northerly appellation) the eight hectares of existing vines were just 8 years old, but happened to be planted on some great terroir. Now, at 20 years of age, those vines are the source of some stunning wines. Pierre's associate and fellow winemaker Blandine Chauchet joined the team in 2003, bringing with her the ownership of 3 hectares of 50 year-old Grenache and Carignan vines in the "Tonillieres" vineyard in Claret.

I first met Pierre in February 2010, at a small tasting event held in Béziers, and I was totally blown away by the quality of his wines. Their amazingly clean structure and the purity of the fruit was what struck me. It was only a few days later, when looking at the Mas Foulaquier website, that I discovered that the wines are actually biodynamic. So, is the quality down to biodynamic farming practices, or is is simply a testament to brilliant winemaking? To be honest, in my experience, the two are often inextricably linked. Whether you believe in biodynamics or not (extreme organics, or just whacky mumbo-jumbo?) those very principles go pretty much hand-in-hand with a love for the land and a fastidious approach to winemaking. The wines are also as natural as can be - no sulphites or added yeasts are used in the winemaking process and only the tiniest amount of SO2 (between 10 and 30 mg) is added at the bottling stage. The wines are also unfined and unfiltered. I should mention, of course, that these wines possess a great deal of Pic Saint-Loup "typicity", albeit at a level of consistency I have never encountered before - and there is some serious competition in the appellation, believe me. In a nutshell, these wines are right up there with some of the best I have tasted from anywhere in Languedoc and Roussillon.

Mas Foulaquier Les Tonillieres 2008 Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Foulaquier Les Tonillieres 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium-to-full bodied, aged in vat. Biodynamic.
Grapes	50% old vine Carignan, 50% Syrah.
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Red and white meats seasoned with herbs, pasta dishes
Next day	Even better - really benefits from a night in the fridge
Drink	Now, or over the next 3 to 5 years
Semi-transluscent, medium purple red, fading gently to a pink rim. Aromas of cherries and raspberries leap from the glass, with background notes of violets, aromatic herbs and liquorice. After some exposure to the air, it develops subtle notes of peppermint, polished leather and eau de vie. Delve a little further and you might even detect hints of apple and iodine. It really is quite complex stuff! The palate takes a few minutes to open out, before revealing flavours of raspberry and redcurrant, a streak of earthy minerality and firm but fine tannins. There is a distinct herbiness and tanginess to this wine, which makes it a great match for dishes seasoned with herbs and maybe even soft spices. And the fruit has hidden depths, becoming denser and more full-bodied after a few hours. The secret is to give it a vigorous double-decant, a good 2 or 3 hours before drinking, because it really does make all the difference. It is a very pure, elegant wine, and should develop and soften beautifully after another year or two in bottle. Certified biodynamic by AB and Demeter.

Price: £12.79 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Mas Foulaquier l'Orfée 2008 Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Foulaquier l'Orphée 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium-to full bodied
Grapes	50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Red and white meats, mediterranean vegetable dishes
Next day	Perhaps even better
Drink	Now, or over the next 3 to 5 years
Semi-translucsent purple colour, fading to a bright ruby/purple rim. The nose has floral scents (hints of violet and lily), mingled with crystallised bramble fruits, tar and eau de vie, with plenty of garrigue and savoury/meaty nuances. I would swear that there were also some mahogany/woody notes, but this wine is very definitely not oak-aged. The palate is rich, with the raisined fruit quality of the Grenache complemented by the high-toned bramble and blackcurrant of the Syrah. The tannins are firm but fine and there is tangy acidity to spare, in another beautifully balanced wine. This is lovely now, but will be fantastic in 3 to 5 years. Certified biodynamic by AB and Demeter.

Price: £13.99 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Mas Foulaquier Les Calades 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Foulaquier Les Calades 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied, partly aged in barrel. Biodynamic
Grapes	60% Syrah, 40% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.5%
Food	Red meats, spicy Asian food, Mediterranean dishes
Next day	Even better
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
A young-looking deep purple/red core, leading to a narrow carmine rim. The nose is a heady mix of red and black fruits steeped in eau de vie, with all manner of exotic spice and garrigue herb notes. Despite being aged for 24 months (half in concrete vats, half in barrels and demi-muids of between 3 and 10 years old) the oak hardly gets a look in, with merely a hint of polished wood mingled in with the complex fruit aromas. The palate is awash with bramble and redcurrants and even a hint of seville orange, giving the wine a distinct tanginess. There is plenty of spicy, tannic grip, but the fruit is so lush and the acidity so mouth-watering that you almost don't notice - it really is a wonderfully balanced, complex wine, combining power with considerable elegance. And if ever a wine wore its 14.5% abv so beautifully, this is it - Chateauneuf-du-Pape, eat your heart out! A compelling and utterly brilliant wine. Biodynamic - awaiting AB certification.

Price: £16.30 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Mas Foulaquier Gran' Tonillieres 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Foulaquier Gran' Tonillieres 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied
Grapes	50% Grenache and 50% Carignan, all over 50 years old
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Red meats, game, duck, sweetly spicy dishes
Next day	Still very good
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 10 years
Aged for 24 months (half in concrete vats, half in barrels and demi-muids of between 3 and 10 years old). A deep purple/black colour, with a narrow carmine rim. Intense and amazingly pure blackcurrant and bramble aromas mingle with garrigue herbs, clove and cedarwood, along with some quite meaty/savoury notes and an interesting hint of iodine (always a good descriptor in my book, by the way). The palate is packed with red and black fruits, herbs, allspice and dark chocolate, with firm but fine tannins and ample acidity. This is undoubtedly the finest and most complex cuvée in the Foulaquier range. The combination of fruit from 50 year-old vines and ageing in (mostly older) oak barrels all contribute to a wine with a magnificent structure. So, athough it is very approachable now, I would not be surprised to see it age and improve for another decade. An absolutely delicious wine. Biodynamic - awaiting AB certification.

Price: £18.89 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Mas Foulaquier Gran' Tonillieres 2007 Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
Mas Foulaquier Gran' Tonillieres 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Pic Saint-Loup, north-east of Montpellier
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied
Grapes	50% Grenache and 50% Carignan, all over 50 years old
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.5%
Food	Red meats, game, duck, sweetly spicy dishes
Next day	Still very good and opening-up
Drink	Now, or over the next 5 to 8 years
Aged for 24 months (half in concrete vats, half in barrels and demi-muids of between 3 and 10 years old). Rich and explosive - a riot of blackcurrant pastille, bramble and tar. As you would expect, this is very similar in style and structure to the 2006 above. At the moment, I marginally prefer the 2006, if only because it has the benefit of an extra year in bottle and is marginally softer and more approachable. But make no mistake, this is also a seriously good and seriously ageworthy wine, which may, in time, outshine the 2006. Biodynamic - awaiting AB certification.

Price: £18.89 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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The Mas Foulaquier Six - Save £8
Mas Foulaquier

A specially priced sample case, covering our brilliant range of biodynamic wines from Mas Foulaquier. The wines in this selection normally retail separately at £93.65. This 6-bottle case is offered at the special price of £85.66 (a saving of £8) and comprises the following wines;

2 x Les Tonillieres 2008 Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
1 x l'Orfée 2008 Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
1 x Les Calades 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
1 x Gran' Tonillieres 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup
1 x Gran' Tonillieres 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup

Price: £85.66 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

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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.

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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.