WTN: Minervois and red Loire

Wednesday with a Lebanese meatloaf, the 2005 Ch. d'Oupia Minervois.
Medium-bodied but with both acidic and tannic structure, pepper overtones dancing over a good base of darker fruits. This seems more Syrah-like than other vintages. It's a little stern at first but opens nicely, and holds up well over 2 days. B+

And another Louis-Dressner import, the 2005 Pepiere "Cepage Cabernet" (VdP du Jardin de la France). I actually thought when I brought this up it was the Cuvee Granit, but it's a bottling I haven't tried before. So how is this red Muscadet? Damn tasty, actually. Balanced acidity, ripe red plum and raspberry fruit with a nice herby edge. A little friendlier now that the Minervois, also a B+

I usually think of the Minervois as an early drinker, but this one seems to maybe want to lie down for a couple of years. Both of these wines are excellent values for my tastes at about $10.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

2005 Pepiere "Cepage Cabernet" (VdP du Jardin de la France). I actually thought when I brought this up it was the Cuvee Granit, but it's a bottling I haven't tried before.

Dale, rumor has it there was a bottling mix-up and the 2005 Cuvee Granit was put in "Cepage Cabernet" bottles. The Cuvee Granits I bought recently were in bottles with the "Cepage Cabernet" labels, but then a sticker was put on the bottles saying it was really the Cuvee Granit. I take it there was no extra sticker? If so, then you probably drank what the label said.

[Robin Garr]

Dale, rumor has it there was a bottling mix-up and the 2005 Cuvee Granit was put in "Cepage Cabernet" bottles. The Cuvee Granits I bought recently were in bottles with the "Cepage Cabernet" labels, but then a sticker was put on the bottles saying it was really the Cuvee Granit. I take it there was no extra sticker? If so, then you probably drank what the label said.

I got a sticker'd bottle AND an unsticker'd one from Chambers Street and I'm <i>still</i> trying to figure out what I had!

Got the '05 Oupia resting, too, from a more recent shipment ... glad to have Dale's report!

Bruce and Robin.
my confusion was just the label looks a lot like the Granit. My bottle has no sticker, and a check of the original email receipt shows the Cabernet Franc was what I ordered. So I'm guessing it is the Cepage Cabernet