A roundup here of four nice wines from Southern France, tasted over the past month and half.
Georges Duboeuf, Patch Block, Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays d'Oc 2008
Pure black cherry and black raspberry, tar, wood, and fig. Ripe and fruit foward the first day, better balanced and more typical PN on the second. Very Languedoc. Like a cross between California and Burgundy. Good Value. Should drink nicely over the next 3 - 5 years. Very Good / Excellent (86 - 88) [3/20/10]
Domaine de L'Oratoire St. Martin, Haut-Coustias, Cairrane - Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2003
Dark ruby, going to pink at the rim. Expansive, deep, exceptional nose of black fruits and earth. On the palate, big, pure black cherry upfront, with raspberry, currant, a touch of citrus peal, cassis, sage, and black soil and mineral notes. Full bodied. A Cairrane that can best many a fine Chateauneuf. Still somewhat youthful, perhaps just now approaching full maturity, with 5 - 8 years of fine drinking ahead of it. Exceptional (90 - 93) [3/27/10]
Having tasted the Haut-Coustias, went to the store to another to cellar for those 8 years, since it was going for a remarkable $24 a bottle!
Domaine de Amouriers, Les Genestes, Vacqueyras 2005
Blackberry, currant, dark berries, tobacco leaf, black pepper, and a touch of tar. Strong, peppery finish. Very big, but one could hope for more distinctive character and depth. Quite good, but I expect more ffor $30. Excellent / Exceptional (89 - 91) [4/10/10]
Domaine de la Morderee, Renaissance, Merlot - Marselan, Vin de Pays du Gard 2007
Nearly impenatrable purple. Nice nose. A hint of cherry upfront on the palate, followed by blackberry, plum, currant, raspberry overtones, and an appley note near the finish, with a hints of tobacco leaf, and a hint of earthy cocoa/leather. Full bodied and ripe. A very Rhonish take on Merlot, perhaps reminding one of Vacqueyras. Quite nice, and an excellent value for $10. Excellent (87 - 90) [4/11/10]