Media Recommendations

Media recommendations

Reviews of our wines by some top journalists and wine publications

Many of the wines on our list have received excellent reviews from some of the U.K's top wine writers, books and magazines.....

Jancis Robinson OBE, Master of Wine and award-winning TV host, has written millions of words about wine, in books such as The Oxford Companion to Wine and the latest, 5th, edition of The World Atlas of Wine (with Hugh Johnson), and as wine correspondent of the Financial Times. On her website, jancisrobinson.com, she writes......"I used to complain that American specialist importers seemed much better at scouting out the best producers in the Languedoc than British wine merchants but a few specialists have at last emerged in the UK. Importers making a real effort with the Languedoc include (amongst others) Leon Stolarski of Nottingham".

Tom Cannavan hosts what is said to be the U.K's most popular wine website, wine-pages.com. He has already given some great write-ups to several of our wines, and early in the new year will hopefully be reviewing yet more. Tom says of our wines....."These characterful wines offer something different from the high street, and express Leon's passion for the south of France."

The Guide Hachette Guide to French Wines is something of a bible for lovers of French wine, with over 9,000 wines featured in each year's issue, culled from over 30,000 tasted. The book runs to over 1,000 pages and is completely revised and re-written annually.

Wine International Magazine is one of the premier monthly wine publications, and home to the annual (and some would say rather pointless) International Wine Challenge. But the regular articles do feature some good tastings.

Click on the links to jump to reviews for each region or wine type........
languedoc roussillon rhone white fizz dessert/fortified

Media Recommendation Languedoc 1

Languedoc Red Wines

Les Vignes de l'Arque - Cuvée des Boissierres 2004 - Vin de Pays d'Oc

Tom Cannavan, at wine-pages.com - February 2006;
"Another wine I have rated highly in previous vintages. There's a herbal note to the nose here, and a slightly leafy character - though that is definitely not lack of ripeness. It is quite fragrant, with little notes of Sandalwood, black cherry fruit and a hint of chocolate. On the palate this is a dry style of wine. It lacks the lusciousness of some of Les Vignes de l'Arque's other wines, but then it has structure and a very powerful, solid character that makes it really very appealing. Definitely a food wine, with a cleansing acidity, this is very good indeed."

Les Vignes de l'Arque - Terroir de l'Arque 2004 - Vin de Pays d'Oc
Tom Cannavan, at wine-pages.com - February 2006;
"This wine is all about intensity and concentration, and has a really vivid, liquorice-tinged blackness on the nose, with aromas of cherry and black plum, and a nice earthiness emerging. It is juicy and attractive, without being at all jammy. On the palate this is really tight and concentrated. I recommend decanting this for several hours before pouring, or sticking it away in the cellar for a few years. At present it is fairly tight and slightly monolithic, but a I have no doubt whatsoever that it is an excellent wine, just a little young at present."

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

Wine International magazine tasting of "Languedoc wines over £10" - February 2004;

91 points - "A glossy appearance, with a lovely, pure, spicy nose, elegant toasty oak and zesty, concentrated blackcurrant fruit."
Tom Cannavan, at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;
"....a solid, warm ruby colour with a hint of pink at the rim. The fragrant, violet and rose-scented nose has plenty of cedar, black fruits and sweet, smoky oak. On the palate there is a rich, ripe, very full and abundant palate of black fruits and juicy red plum, with plenty of grip from incisive, ripe tannins and a savoury, roughening damson tang. It has good texture and a strength of fruit through the mid-palate, and finishes long with good balance in another very stylish wine from this estate."

Media Recommendations Languedoc 2

Neffièz Cuvée Baltazar 2003 - Coteaux du Languedoc

Tim Atkin MW in The Observer - 25 June 2006

"......a dense, hauntingly perfumed Syrah, with notes of liquorice and black olives."

Domaine Ellul-Ferrieres Les Romarins 2001 - Coteaux du Languedoc

JancisRobinson.com - 4 January 2006
"Looks fully evolved. Rusty nail nose - quite attractive, in a wan, fading grand dame sort of way - provided you are not looking for technically squeaky-clean, fruit-driven wine. This one waves its handkerchief [is that really how one spells this funny word?] at you. 16/20 points."

Domaine Ellul-Ferrieres Grand Cuvée 2001 - Coteaux du Languedoc

JancisRobinson.com - 4 January 2006
"Richer and smoother and fuller than the Romarins ....... quite big and bloody, but still a hint of rusty nails. This has quite a bit to give yet and should satisfy those who value mass, but not overt modernism. 16.5/20 points. Drink 2006-08."

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Media Recommendations Roussillon

Roussillon Red Wines

Domaine Sol-Payré "Ater" 2001 - Cotes du Roussillon

Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005

"A sister wine to the terrific "Imo Pectore", this blend is dominated by Syrah (75%) with 20% old-vine Carignan and 5% Grenache. It has a very dark, black-centred colour with a fine, but agin dark and senuous nose wher sandalwood and exotic spices are layered over sweeter, very ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit. There's a tiny suggestion of charcoal or schist in a very composed profile. It has much more fruit sweetness than "Imo Pectore", but also quite a liquoricy edge of bittersweet tannin and grippy, plumskin fruit. There is more drama and tension in this cuvée, with juicy acidity and a great depth of plum and chocolate fruit. Another bold and dramatic wine that is also excellent, though for me the "Imo Pectore" is a little more harmonious and intriguing."

Domaine Mas de Lavail "La Desirade" 2003 - Cotes du Roussillon Villages

Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005

"A really inky depth of colour: an opaque crimson/black, very deep and sonorous, with a huge, pure, core of spice and vanilla-licked red fruits. It has plenty of clove and cinammon, and a fudge-like darkness. It delivers a smooth, silky-textured weight of ripe black fruits wrapped in a blanket of espresso-flavoured mellow oak. This has a very modern style, with masses of extraction and peppery tannins, that suffused layering of toasty oak and a finish with plenty of cocentration and spice. Lovely heart-warming stuff ... delicious and ultra-impressive in a modern style. Very good indeed/excellent."

Domaine Mas de Lavail "Ego" 2002 - Vin de Pays d'Oc

JancisRobinson.com - 4 January 2006

"Grenache from Maury. Very deep. Exciting depth of flavour with that terroir. Excellent resonance, so long as you can take the alcohol, 15%, dry and schistous-tasting. Long and hot. 17/20 points. Drink now-2010. Not expensive."
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005

"A vibrant, medium-density crimson/purple, a very fragrant, really quite delicate nose of flowers and fine raspberry fruit, with a hint of ripe blackcurrant and a gentle schisty note. Nicely fruity (barriques have been very sensitively used I'd guess, with older barrels and medium toasting) so that the delicacy of that ripe fruit is not overpowered. There is plenty of peppery stuffing, and a spicy, quite decisive background tannin, but this is quite a pure, focused expression of the old vines Grenache backed up by a subtle coffeeish oak. 2002 was a wash-out for most of southern France, so the concentration and purity of the fruit in this wine is a testament to very good winemaking and old, low-cropping vines. Excellent."

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Media Recommendations Rhone

Rhône Red Wines

Domaine Rabasse-Charavin Cuvée d'Estévenas 2001 - Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne

JancisRobinson.com - December 2005
"17/20 points. Drink 2005-12. Mellow, lively, racier than many 2001s with even a hint of spritz but pretty strapping."

Cave Cairanne - Les Salyens 1999 - Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne

Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005
"....a developed ruby colour, this wine from a very fine vintage in this region has a savoury, baked plum and earthy nose with leather and tobacco notes and quite an autumnal feel. The palate has a very smooth, silky-textured appeal, with plenty of rounded, supple fruit that is blood-streaked and meaty, with lots of spice and mellow oak supporting into the finish. There's a kick of peppery, grippy tannin and dark liquorice, in a wine that tastes mature and gamey and is drinking well now."

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Media Recommendations White

White Wines

Domaine Sainte Rose - Le Sirocco Chardonnay 2004 - Vin de Pays d'Oc

Jancis Robinson, Wine of the Week (w/c 27 September 2005)
"This one's a mystery, a Chardonnay that tastes like a cross between a Riesling and a particularly rich Sauvignon Blanc. I served it one summer evening in the Languedoc and the visitors who liked Sauvignon loved it, and so did I because it gave me the same pleasure - massively revitalising plus aroma - as a Riesling........ We were all intrigued by the arresting but un-Chardonnay-like aromas of Le Sirocco Chardonnay 2004 - almost grapefruit.......".

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Media recommendations - Fizz

Sparkling Wines

Domaine Rosier Blanquette de Limoux Brut

Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005
"...a fine, light golden colour, with a very consistent stream of tiny, pin-prick bubbles. On the nose there is a lovely limpid freshness, with a yeilding, creamy aspect to fresh, crisp nutty apple and pear fruit. On the palate this has a fine, gently persistent mousse and an immediately mouthfilling texture of bold, crunchy apple fruit, with a razor-sharp edge of lemony acidity, but no hint of leaness or tartness. The fruit fills out on the mid-palate, with a herbal edge, a hint of toast, and a finish that is long with plenty of style. A winner of the prestigious "Coup de Couer" in the 2004 Guide Hachette, this is excellent."

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Media Recommendations Old

Previous recommendations

Although the following wines are no longer available, the recommendations remain a testament to the quality of wines that we offer to our customers. Furthermore, the growers featured on our list have proved that they make great wines year in, year out. As we feature the current vintages of most of the wines shown here, these recommendations also offer an idea of what to expect from the more recent vintages. Basically, it is all about the growers - good winemakers tend almost invariably to make good wines! Links are provided, if more recent vintages are available.

Château Etienne La Dournie 1999 - Saint-Chinian
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;

"The colour is a very dense ruby/crimson, and the nose offers a wonderfully spicy mélange of clove and nutmeg scented bramble fruit. There's a lovely depth of fruit here, gently supported by coffee and fudge-like oak. The palate is very fine, with well delineated cherry and raspberry fruit in abundance, and a nicely bittersweet tension with firm, ripe tannins, juicy acidity and darker, plummy fruit. It has lovely length and style, and is excellent."
See the latest vintage - 2004

Château La Dournie Saint-Chinian "Elise" 2000
JancisRobinson.com - 4 January 2006;
"Very deep crimson. Strongly Syrah. Round and deep. Satisfying - with food, though. Tangy and long. 17/20 points. Drink now -2007."
Tom Cannavan, at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;

"Mostly Syrah, with 20% Grenache from 50-year-old vines, partly aged in small oak barrels. It has a medium-deep, but very vibrant crimson colour, and a soaring, kirsch-like perfume with touches of mulberry and mint, and a real ripeness with black fruits and even a gamey, bloody character. On the palate there is lovely fruit sweetness, with plenty of fresh, ripe, bursting berry fruit, a keen edge of raspberry and a building depth of chocolate and cream through the mid-palate. Medium- to full-bodied, there's a good spine of supple tannin and crisp acidity in a beautifully focused, pure style of wine. Excellent."
See the latest vintage - 2003

Domaine d'Archimbaud 2001 - Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Saturnin
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;

"......a solid. dark crimson colour and a lovely bright-fruited, pastille-like nose with blackcurrant and raspberry jam to the fore. On the palate there is a burst of dazzling, decisive berry fruit, with a lovely fine edge of steely liquorice and black plum skin, leading to a long, savoury finish with a solid fruit core. Beautifully crafted and very good indeed/excellent."
See the latest vintage - 2004

Domaine d'Archimbaud La Robe du Poupre 2001 - Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Saturnin
JancisRobinson.com - 4 January 2006;
"Round and sweet. Substantial. Bit of Grenache? Lots of tannin. Satisfying. 16.5/20 points. Drink now - 2008."
See the latest vintage - 2003

Domaine La Combe Blanche - La Chandelière 1999 - Minervois La Liviniere
Wine International magazine tasting of "Languedoc wines over £10" - February 2004;
88 points - "Ripe, smoky and malty, with good, ripe tannins. Firm, young and serious."
Tom Cannavan, at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;
"....spice and warmth on the nose, with aromas of baked plum pie and deep-set dark cherry nuances, as well as plenty of peppery, spice and sweet chocolaty notes. ....silky-textured and very smooth and svelte, yet there is a sheen of polished toughness about the tight, grainy tannins and muscular, compact fruit. .....concentrated, sweet blueberry and cherry fruit and supporting vanillin oak into the finish. It has good length, and is very good indeed in a robust, chewy style."

Domaine Mas de Lavail Tradition 2003 - Côtes du Roussillon Villages
Jancis Robinson.com and the 12/3/2005 edition of Financial Times - featured in the article "Tough Times For Coopers", about un-oaked wines;
"60 year-old bushvines just north of Pyrenees are grown in such dry conditions than the grapes themselves are tiny, thereby stuffed with their own tannins. Full, dense and sweet with excellent potential for ageing for the price. Roussillon is a more and more interesting source of fine reds as well as whites. The oaked Desirade is also very good..."
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - "Wine of the Week" 13 March 2005;
".....vibrant purple colour and concentrated, schisty, charcoal and rasberry nose with hints of pepper and dusty blueberry fruit. A depth of smoky, dark, bitter chocolate fills out on the mid-palate, with plenty of spice, a slick of vanilla and dry, savoury, leather and plumskin notes....lovely Rhône-like charcater that combines super-sweet fruit and restraining acidity and tannin in a lovely all-round package. Excellent. "
See the latest vintage - 2004

Domaine Sol-Payré Elevé en Futs de Chêne 2002 - Côtes du Roussillon
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;
"......medium ruby/crimson, the nose offers an intensely sweet, ripe, currant and dried cherry fruit concentration, with floral and herbal hints and real concentration. The oak is cedary and smoky, and sits nicely beneath the fruit. On the palate there's a lovely richness to this wine, with masses of raspberry and cherry fruit flavour, but a big, spicy, chocolaty depth of flavour with exotic, dried orange peel and crushed spice nuances. Lovely warming stuff, with balanced tannins and freshening acidity into a long finish. What a lovely wine, and excellent."
See the latest vintage - 2004

Domaine Sol-Payré "Imo Pectore" 2001 - Cotes du Roussillon
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;
"75% old-vine Carignan with 20% Syrah and 5% Grenache, a deep, vibrant crimson colour and a deep-set, dark and mysterious nose with all sorts of exotic spice aromas and a very sensuous, dark, supple fruit quality. On the palate it maintains that brooding, dark, very solidly-packed muscular fruit quality, with a dense layering of dark, plum and bramble fruit over a baked plum pie quality of warming, toasty oak. There is lovely depth here, but with a diffused and smoky quality that is delicious to drink as it opens out on the finish. Beautiful stuff, and excellent."
See the latest vintage - 2003

Media recommendations Old 2

Domaine La Combe Blanche - Four a Chaux de La Combe 2000 - VDP des Côtes du Brian
Jancis Robinson, in the June 2004 edition of "Business Life", the British Airways in-flight magazine;
"This is really interesting, full-bodied, perfumed white wine that contains a bit of Chardonnay to give it weight, but whose flavour is dominated by two Rhône grapes, the aromatic, nervy Roussanne and the heady, lychee-scented Viognier.... lots of character - a certain marzipan scent, greengage fruit and great weight. It is too assertive to sip as an aperitif. Serve it with a first course or chicken and marvel at what Belgian winemaker Guy Vanlancker, a veteran of nearly two decades here, has achieved."
Tom Cannavan at winepages.com - 28 February 2005;
"A former 'Wine of the Week', I would recommend you decant this wine into a jug and leave it for several hours, perhaps pouring it back into the bottle to chill it down before drinking. The nose on the second day had opened out to reveal a honeyed sense of limpidity, with plenty of creamy peach and yellow plum, still with plenty of vanillin, custardy oak on top. The palate is full-bodied and chewy, with rich, bold fruit flavours suggesting melon and very ripe pears, but with a pineappley, tropical sweet edge. The oak adds a grippy, smoky definition and the lemon acidity lifts and sharpens the finish. A really nice style of wine and quite unusual."

Domaine Mas de Lavail "Le Sud" 2003 - Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;
"A very pale straw/gold colour with a beautifully alluring nose of liquorice, honey, Jack Daniels and creamy white fruits. On the palate there is a powerful oaky edge to this wine at present, with a firm, very liquoricy and spicy character that dominates the initial taste, before a weight of ripe, quite tangy peach and white fruit flavours begins to muscle its way back in. There is a good edge of mineral acidity, and that quite severe oak and oak-tannin grip reasserts in a very powerful wine. This is one for the cellar in my opinion, where another three to five years will see a more integrated wine. Very good indeed, potentially excellent."
See the current vintage - 2005

Domaine Mas de Lavail Maury Expression 2002/3 - Maury
Tom Cannavan at wine-pages.com - 28 February 2005;

"The colour is a very intense purple/black, and the nose has a lovely perfume of violets and old roses, with a kirsch-like cherry fruit, plenty of spice, and a gentle note of toffee and brown sugar. On the palate it is just delicious: a big, warming, beautifully sweet slick of luscious red fruits floods over the tongue, backed up by a warming core of cinammon and clove, and a fudge-like, sweet and marmalady background. There's a spritely edge of tannins and a lovely acidity that dries the sides of the mouth and counteracts the sweetness, to leave an elegant and very, very long, poised finish. Terrific and delicious stuff and a great price for southern France's equivalent of a single-quinta vintage Port. Excellent."
See the current vintage - 2004

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