Wine Focus: Any thoughts for February? Lets discuss!

What if we go with something like "France, the Southern Tier," with a specific list of AOCs that we encourage, while not absolutely ruling out Cotes du Rhone for those who want to play but just can't find anything else?

That sounds good to me.

[Robin Garr]

What if we go with something like "France, the Southern Tier," with a specific list of AOCs that we encourage, while not absolutely ruling out Cotes du Rhone for those who want to play but just can't find anything else?

That sounds good to me.

Would you like to suggest a list of AOCs for us to recommend, Tim? Or is this a busy time for you?

Let me revert on that, Robin. I think that we will be focussing principally on the wine regions, Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence. Within these there are quite a number of AOCs and VdPs. I need to think how to make the list as digestible as possible.

This is a non-exhaustive list of appellations in the Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence wine regions.

Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées (AOC)

Languedoc

Regional AOCs
Languedoc (may include some from Roussillon)
Coteaux du Languedoc (certain better villages may have their name added, e.g. Montpeyroux, Pic St.Loup)

Principal sub-regional/village appellations
Cabardès
Corbières
Minervois
St.Chinian
Faugères
Fitou
Limoux (includes sparklers)

Roussillon

Regional AOCs
Côtes du Roussillon
Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Principal sub-regional/ village appellations
Collioure

- for sweet fortified wines
Maury
Rivesaltes
Banyuls

Provence

Regional AOC
Côtes de Provence (sometimes sub-regional names tacked on, e.g. Ste.Victoire, Fréjus)

Principal sub-regional/village appellations
Bandol
Bellet
Cassis
Palette
Les Baux de Provence
Coteaux d’Aix en Provence

Some important Vin de Pays (VdP) appellations
Oc
Hérault
Bouches du Rhône
Côtes Catalanes
(NB: some very fine estates use mainly VdP appellations, e.g. Mas de Daumas Gassac and Grange des Pères use Hérault, Trévallon uses Bouches du Rhône, Le Soula and Casenove use Côtes Catalanes)

In Languedoc-Roussilon the appellations are a moving feast. "Languedoc" is a new creation and is regarded as perverse by many as it also includes Roussillon. "Coteaux du Languedoc" is destined to disappear and be replaced by individual sub-regional/village appellations, e.g. Montpeyroux, Pic St.Loup, etc. There may also be similar projects for "Côtes du Roussillon" and "Côtes du Roussillon Villages".

Here is a link to an interactive map of Languedoc-Roussillon wine appellations http://www.vins-languedoc-roussillon.fr ... e-aoc.html .

That is quite a list there Tim. Lots of choice for the punters here to look out for!
Minervois is an appellation I am interested in looking at in February but I will certainly be Pic St Loup bound!

[Robin Garr]

This is a non-exhaustive list of appellations in the Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence wine regions.

OUtstanding, Tim! Thanks a bazillion. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I think we have our February topic.

[Robin Garr]

I don't know that this is definitive, but for what it's worth, I poked my head into the Whole Foods wine shop in Louisville a few minutes ago. It's a fairly small shop with a modest inventory of, I dunno, maybe 200 wines or so, and they had at least a half-dozen Provence and Languedoc wines including reds and whites, a couple of Coteaux du Languedoc and a Cotes du Provence, Minervois and Corbieres, just to name those that stuck in my head.

Great, start buying Robin!

I support the Languedoc wine theme. I have been drinking some mighty tasty wines from that region the last year or so and they also tend to be good value. Plus I have some in my cellar that would be nice to drink in the cold month of February with some nice hearty beef or lamb stew or roast beef with root vegetables.

Tom, with your palate, TNs should be a treat! I am looking at a slight mid-stream conversion to Minervois after I have opened a couple of reds from Pic St Loup. I wanna see if Minervois is worth all the attention it is gaining from the wine-press.

Tom, with your palate, TNs should be a treat! I am looking at a slight mid-stream conversion to Minervois after I have opened a couple of reds from Pic St Loup. I wanna see if Minervois is worth all the attention it is gaining from the wine-press.

Hi Bob,

I have a Minervois Chateau de Gourgazaud 2006 reserve in my cellar that I have drank one bottle of. It is a big boy that is still a bit tannic and tight. I might be able to drink another one if I decant it for a few hours first. My other wine is a Saint Chinian 2007 Hecht & Bannier. It is also supposed to be nice, but I have yet to try it.

http://www.vins-languedoc-roussillon.fr ... e-aoc.html

That is a very good map Tim. Anything changed there in the past week!!!
I see that you rightly mentioned Pays d`Oc in your excellent summary. Hopefully someone might find a few of the gems from that appellation eh.

Tom, is it possible you are drinking these a bit on the young side?

http://www.vins-languedoc-roussillon.fr/fr/cadre-aoc.html
Tom, is it possible you are drinking these a bit on the young side?

Hi Bob,

Oh, I think that is definitely the case. I bought 3 bottles and always like to try one early on to see how it is drinking. I will be posting an early tasting note for a Languedoc wine we are having with dinner tonight. I may also be a tad early to drink it but I think it is drinking better than the Minervois plus I decanted it before serving.

Tom, think research is quite important this month. Even I am not sure when some of the wines in the cellar are going to be ready to drink!

I am in conversation with Jonathon Hesford who is a Brit making wine down there..... Domaine Treloar. Jon is a regular on the UK forum and I introduced him to an agent who now brings his wines into W. Canada. He will probably look in here from time to time!
If we could get hold of Rosemary George, that would be a coup eh.

Gentle reminder, here is a map of the Languedoc.....>

http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/lr_map.htm

Hi Bob,

That map to which you give a link is incomplete. It doesn't include Cabardès to the west of Minervois. Cabardès is an interesting sub-region which is something of a cross between Mediterranean and Atlantic influences both in grape varieties and taste. I don't know if Château Pennautier from Cabardès finds its way across the Altantic but it illustrates nicely both influences and the basic cuvée is splendid QPR here at about 6-7€.

Hi Tim.

Yikes, missed that! This one not so clear, what you think?

http://www.mcnees.org/images/wine/maps/ ... guedoc.jpg

Hi Tim.

Yikes, missed that! This one not so clear, what you think?

http://www.mcnees.org/images/wine/maps/ ... guedoc.jpg

Bob, I haven't discovered any better map on line than http://www.vins-languedoc-roussillon.fr ... e-aoc.html which has the additional advantage of going into more detail when clicking on the main map. Written explanations are very good too but in French only as far as I can see.

Great, you can click on the appellation and more details show up.
What about Picpoul?

Great, you can click on the appellation and more details show up.
What about Picpoul?

Click Coteaux du Langudoc on the main map and you'll find it, then click on Picpoul for more details.

Sneaky hide-away eh. I have to PM you Tim.