Lets hear it for La Clape!

I have always been a fan of the reds from this Languedoc area (see some previous posts doing a search). Today whilst browsing through one of our megastores, I came across a 2013 Chateau Ricardelle Cru de Languedoc..$28 Cdn. I see Hoke has mentioned this domaine in the past>

search.php?keywords=ricardelle

Wonder if any forumite has an opinion?

That's a name which conjures up memories. I recall buying a case from there in the 70s and drinking most of it with great pleasure during a holiday in the south of France. It cost much less than 28$Cdn then; single figures in FRF, IIRC .

Doing a bit of a search, the estate appears in the Bettane Desseauve guide for 2015 (the last I bought) as a one star estate on a scale from zero to five; so quite honourable in their view. Also gets recommended in various editions of Guide Hachette http://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins ... ricardelle .

That's a name which conjures up memories. I recall buying a case from there in the 70s

Most folks are a bit embarrassed to admit they have a case of . . .

-Paul W.

That's a name which conjures up memories. I recall buying a case from there in the 70s

Most folks are a bit embarrassed to admit they have a case of . . .

-Paul W.

2 bottles coming via courier! No need to smuggle in, PO out of town .

Please let us have a TN in due course, Bob.

I like the area a lot. We once stayed with friends of a friend, who owned sumptuous estate, l'Hospitalet, in La Clape. They were a very generous couple, since separated; he a retired real estate developer and she an extremely energetic and competent former international civil servant. The funny thing was that neither was really interested in wine and it showed in well made but international offerings. It's my dream to own a place like that! Reports are that their successors are making more characterful wine.

An estate in La Clape which I like is Pech Redon. A few years ago the owner lost an entire harvest because some vandal emptied all the tanks containing his wines of the vintage. Many neighbours rallied round to help, even giving him wine to sell to help to make up his loss of revenue.

There`s a sad story Tim. Only thought this happened in Italy ( no offence meant).
Do you think the Ricardelle will be ready?

There`s a sad story Tim. Only thought this happened in Italy ( no offence meant).
Do you think the Ricardelle will be ready?

Yes, I think the same happened to a Montalcino producer; Soldera IIRC. I'm not sure which was the earlier incident; there could be an element of copy-cat. Another friendly act in French vineyards was the sawing down to the roots of numerous vines of a certain vigneron but I don't recall who or where that was.

In general Languedoc wines don't benefit from a lot of age so, if there are two bottles, I'd open open one quite soon. Exceptions on ageing include Mas Jullien, Aupilhac and Peyre-Rose. I have still one bottle of '95 of the last. They are such monumentally big wines that it is hard to find a pairing.