Leon Stolarski Fine Wines Roussillon Red Wine

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.

Domaine Treloar One Block Grenache 2006 - Vin de Pays d'Oc
Domaine Treloar One Block Grenache 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Vin de Pays d'Oc, Trouillas, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	100% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Grilled meats and vegetables
Next day	Better still
Drink	Drinking now, will improve for up to 5 years
Rich, spicy red wine. Red fruits and chocolate on the nose, with flavours of ripe berries and hints of liquorice, vanilla and coffee.

Price: £8.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Mas de Lavail Ballade 2004 - Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
Domaine Mas de Lavail Ballade 2004 Table

Vintage	2004
Region	Maury, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied.
Grapes	A blend of very old Carignan and Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Beef, lamb, rich casseroles
Next day	Even better
Drink	Excellent now, but will improve for 2 or 3 years
A nose of blackcurrants, cherries and mulberries, with a hint of tar and eau de vie - rather like a good Cotes du Rhone, with bags of concentrated black, tarry fruit flavours and cherry acidity and a nice dollop of rustic tannins. Excellent value.

Price: £6.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Mas de Lavail Ballade 2005 - Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
Domaine Mas de Lavail Ballade 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Fenouilledes, north-west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied.
Grapes	A blend of very old Carignan and Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Beef, lamb, rich casseroles
Next day	Even better
Drink	Excellent now, but will improve for 2 or 3 years
A nose of blackcurrants, cherries and mulberries, with a hint of tar and eau de vie - rather like a good Cotes du Rhone, with bags of concentrated black, tarry fruit flavours and cherry acidity and a nice dollop of rustic tannins. Excellent value.

Price: £6.80 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Mas de Lavail Ego 2004 - Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes
Domaine Mas de Lavail Ego 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Fenouilledes, north-west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months
Grapes	100% old vine Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	15.0%
Food	Fillet steak, venison, rack of lamb
Next day	Opens out even more, with added complexity
Drink	Excellent now, but will improve for up to 10 years
A clear, bright ruby coloured wine, offering aromas of cherry, bramble, plum and even a hint of seville orange, with notes of herby garrigue and leather. The palate offers an abundance of rich, spiced fruitcake flavours, with additional notes of bonfire toffee and dark chocolate. The tannins are velvety and ripe, in a wine that is utterly drinkable now, but with the structure to age and improve for a number of years. Further tasting reveals extra layers of flavour and interest, with earthy, savoury nuances making an appearance. Harvesting old Grenache at full maturity in a hot climate makes for a naturally high level of alcohol (15% abv) but it certainly does not get in the way - there is a healthy degree of acidity for such a rich wine, giving remarkable balance and a good degree of elegance. Lovers of Chateauneuf du Pape or Priorat should try this - it knocks spots off many such wines at twice, or even three times the price. Superb stuff!

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

Quantity:

Domaine Pietri-Geraud Collioure 2005
Domaine Pietri-Geraud Collioure 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Collioure - by the Mediterranean, near the Spanish border
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium-to-full bodied.
Grapes	60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, plus Mourvedre and Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Roast meats, stews, grilled Tuna
Next day	Better still
Drink	Excellent now, or keep for 5+ years
Deep-ish ruby/purple colour. The aromas of red and black fruits, spice and herbs fairly leap out of the glass, like a fruity, savoury summer pudding, with flavours of cherry and cassis, spice and char-grilled peppers and chocolatey tannins. Collioure is right by the sea, and the savouriness of this wine is heightened by a subtle saltiness, due no doubt to the maritime influence. Although the soil is schiste (shale) the terroir is as much from the sea. Chateauneuf with a twist? Whatever it is, this is an unusual and lovely wine.

Price: £11.30 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Cuvée Tradition 2005 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Tradition 2005 table

Vintage	2005
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 30% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Roast beef or lamb, roast vegetable dishes, cheese, pasta
Next day	Better still
Drink	Excellent now, or keep for 2 or 3 years
A spicy, bramble and herb nose with a hint of dark cherry. Concentrated red and black fruit flavours with notes of capsicum and ground black pepper. Good tannic structure and lively acidity combine with the lush fruit, making for a lovely sweet and sour style. Drinking nicely already, but another year in bottle will see it develop beautifully.

Price: £6.90 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Cuvée Futs de Chene 2004 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Futs de Chene 2004 Table

Vintage	2004	Image to follow
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months
Grapes	60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Roast beef or lamb, liver, game in rich sauces
Next day	Better still - extra complexity and integrated flavours
Drink	Excellent now, or keep for 2 or 3 years
A nose of black fruits, black pepper and spice, with subtle notes of toasty oak. Coffee and orange peel notes develop, in time. Full-bodied, with flavours of bramble, black cherry, black olive and pepper. Mouth-watering acidity and rustic tannins. A gorgeous, refreshing and very more-ish wine!

Price: £8.25 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Ivresse de Sens 2005 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Ivresse de Sens 2005 table

Vintage	2005	Image to follow
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 1 year.
Grapes	50% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 30% Carignan
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	Roast beef or lamb, roast vegetable dishes, cheese, pasta
Next day	Better still
Drink	Superb now, or keep for up to 3 years
Medium purple robe, with a ruby red rim. What a nose! Bramble, cherry and orange peel aromas fairly leap out of the glass, along with notes of tobacco, spice, herbs and sous-bois. Seriously juicy on the palate, with a core of rich fruit flavours complimented by beautifully judged acidity and silky tannins. The flavours are multi-layered, with the black and red fruit flavours augmented by tangy orange peel and cranberry. Superb length - and a superb wine for the money..

Price: £8.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Imo Pectore - du Fond du Coeur 2003 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Imo Pectore 2003 Table

Vintage	2003
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	Mourvedre, Syrah and old vine Carignan - aged in oak
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Meats, game, vegetables, pizza, pasta with tomato sauce
Next day	As good, or even better
Drink	Excellent now, or keep for 5 to 8 years
Extremely complexaromas and flavours of squished plums, bramble, chocolate, orange peel, coffee and vanilla. One to contemplate. Silky tannins and lovely balancing acidity. Further notes of cherries and dates appear later on, with a lingering, spicy finish. Beautiful stuff.

Price: £10.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Imo Pectore - du Fond du Coeur 2004 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Imo Pectore 2004 table

Vintage	2004
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	Mourvedre, Syrah and old vine Carignan - aged in oak
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Grilled or roast meats, game, roasted vegetables
Next day	As good, or even better
Drink	Drinking beautifully now, or age for a further 5 years
Deep, dark (almost opaque) purple colour, with a wonderful nose of bramble fruits and toasty oak. Flavours of bramble, raspberry and plum, with hints of liquorice and herbs. The tannins are rich and velvety, giving an impression of lushness and ripeness, without being at all overpowering. Great acidity and superb balance. Overall, there is an impression of restrained power and elegance, showing elements of the new world, whilst still quintessentially Roussillon. Another lovely wine from this hugely reliable estate.

Price: £11.30 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity:

Domaine Sol-Payre Ater Noir 2003 - Cotes du Roussillon
Domaine Sol-Payré Ater 2003 Table

Vintage	2003
Region	Cotes du Roussillon, Elne, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	75% Syrah, 20% old Carignan, 5% Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Beef, lamb, game in rich sauces
Next day	As good
Drink	Excellent now, or keep for 5 to 8 years
Aromas of sweet and sour black cherries, chocolate and spice. Huge flavours of baked fruits (bramble and black cherry) and a hint of orange marmalade and liquorice. Rich and rounded, with velvety tannins and gentle acidity, making for a rich, hedonistic wine.

Price: £10.50 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

Quantity: