WTN: My candidate for the finest estate in Languedoc

Coteaux du Languedoc 1998 – Mas Jullien, Terrasses du Larzac – Alc.14% (€21 for 2006), made currently from equal parts of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carigan.

Unlike most from Languedoc, the wines of this estate have harmony and elegance together with an aptitude to improve with age. This bottle was an outstanding example like a 1989 a year or so ago. It was more robust and less evolved than my memory and TN of an earlier bottle of 1998 in January and therefore even more lovely with unusual elegance for the region. The aromas on the nose and plate showed primary fruit, some sweet cherry, at first but with airing red rose, Southern herbs, anise and some mint, tar and leather came up and pushed the fruit into the background. Body was medium to full, the palate was well focussed, harmonious with gentle acidity, classically shaped and quite mouth-filling and long with ripe tannic support for the finish. The high alcohol was unobtrusive and a bottle like this could hold for some time to come; 17.5/20+.

Lanky-doc has some great wines, we all know that. Good representation in my area, how about south of the border?

One for the team there Tim.

[b]Unlike most from Languedoc, the wines of this estate have harmony and elegance together with an aptitude to improve with age.

Thanks for the positive TN. My sample size is probably small by most standards, but I had been hard-pressed to find many credible-drinking wines from this region.

I had been hard-pressed to find many credible-drinking wines from this region.

????

I think there are lots of 'credible' drinking wines from this region. They have reliable sun and the wines are consistently ripe, flavorful, etc. Of course I don't buy many because it's not my style. But they're certainly 'credible'.

I had been hard-pressed to find many credible-drinking wines from this region.

????

I think there are lots of 'credible' drinking wines from this region. They have reliable sun and the wines are consistently ripe, flavorful, etc. Of course I don't buy many because it's not my style. But they're certainly 'credible'.

I had always thought that everybody here would have some understanding that posts here are mostly subjective opinions and should not be misconstrued as fact. Also, you had left out a key sentence with your quote from my post .... that I admittedly had a limited sample size. My personal experience, as limited as my sample size may be, is that, just as Tim had apparently prefaced in his TN, I drank mostly disjointed plonk that came from this region. Rather than ask what wines you've had from here, I'll just say that I believe that you have had, in your opinion, your personal share of 'credible' wines from here.

I had always thought that everybody here would have some understanding that posts here are mostly subjective opinions and should not be misconstrued as fact...just as Tim had apparently prefaced in his TN, I drank mostly disjointed plonk that came from this region...

Ok, I guess I was being too narrowly focused on the specific words. I know the Languedoc has historically been known for disjointed plonk, but I think things have gotten a lot better in the past 20 years with more attention to wine growing/wine making, etc (check out all of Kermit's producers for starters). To my mind, that basic standard of quality makes them credible.

But as far as Tim's preface, I took his reference to mean that 'elegance and harmony' are rarities in the Languedoc, even among the good/credible wines, because it's so damned hot and the wines are so damned big. Which is why I don't drink much of the stuff.

Either way, good on Tim for taking the effort to age this.

I had been hard-pressed to find many credible-drinking wines from this region.

????

I think there are lots of 'credible' drinking wines from this region. They have reliable sun and the wines are consistently ripe, flavorful, etc. Of course I don't buy many because it's not my style. But they're certainly 'credible'.

I have been stashing away these wines for a number of years, and not only just the reds. There is a lot of new "expertise" and money arriving in the area so I think with careful research, some wonderful wines will be found by those interested in sampling Languedoc.
There is a lot of knowledge out there....Rosemary George, Jamie Goode to name just two and a few forumites here have ample know-how to guide us along!

But as far as Tim's preface, I took his reference to mean that 'elegance and harmony' are rarities in the Languedoc, even among the good/credible wines, because it's so damned hot and the wines are so damned big.

That is exactly what I mean, Rahsaan. I enjoy many of the others with appropriate food for their frank robust fruit and structure plus Mediterranean herb flavours, provided the prices are reasonable QPR, and, in this connection, I note quite a bit of price inflation amongst the better known producers. For the quality, I consider Mas Jullien at €21 represents excellent QPR; there are many inferior, IMHO, wines in the region (even more so elsewhere ) which cost a lot more.

My sample size is probably small by most standards, but I had been hard-pressed to find many credible-drinking wines from this region.

I recommend perseverance, particularly if you like Mediterranean style wines. However, with the US distribution system, the selection and particularly QPR may not be what it is here.