Languedoc Roussillon Tasting

I teach FWS Scholar classes and last night was the first time we had a class in person since this all began. One of the student hosted in their spacious back yard so we could social distance and we had a screen set up and drank into the night. Thought I'd share the tasting notes

Domaine Delmas Blanquette de Limoux Cuvée Tradition Brut
This was a killer low priced sparkling wine. Had a lot of aromas which reminded me of Chardonnay, even though there is none in it. Apples, pineapples and a slight melon aroma, followed up with some brioche. I had never had a Blanquette before and I'm so happy I got to try this one!

2016 V.S.A. Crémant de Limoux Saint Hilaire Brut Rose
The Monks of Saint Hilaire are credited with making the first sparkling wine so I was excited to taste this. Had a slightly sweet feel to it. After the Blanquette this felt a little flat. Had a great mousse, but the flavors were just kind of lacking.

2010 Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc
Not sure the exact blend on this. The back of the bottles says equal parts Viognier, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Petit Manseng. The website says something very different for this vintage, so who knows. When first opened the color stands out, gold, bright gold. The nose also smells sweat, this blew off after it had been open for a while, I should have decanted it. Baked Apples, jasmine, and honeysuckle. This taste like Puligny-Montrachet and Condrieu had a baby. Likely drinking at its peak, but no rush.

2013 Château Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry Prestige
Not a bad wine, everything is technically right on it, but tonight it was my least favorite. Fruit driven with a little mineral edge. But just so clean it was kind of boring. In no way offensive, but also not exciting

2016 Domaine Ledogar Vin de France Boscaton
A blend of Marselan and Cabernet Sauvignon. This has settled down since I last had it. Still shows some signs of Brett, but they dissipate quickly. Very animal still, with some dark fruit. The fruit is slightly muted from the leather and animal aromas. This is a rugged wine that for under $15 is great. So different from the other reds drank tonight, and easily the cheapest, but over performs compared to the others. Tannin and acid are medium, finish is surprisingly long. Not a pretty wine, but a very enjoyable one...

2007 L'Oustal Blanc (Isabel et Claude Fonquerle) Minervois-La Livinière Prima Donna
I loved this bottle! Still so fresh, this taste like it could easily survive another 20 years, just fresh and bright. Tasted of Thyme and Oregano with black olives and black fruit. This was a big wine, but managed to stay light on it's feet. Sadly my last bottle

From what I can tell the winery is no longer around, I tried to find more information on them and there is nothing to find. Hope they are still around, would love to find more form them...

2013 Château Saint-Roch (Languedoc) Côtes du Roussillon Villages Chimères
Good fruit driven red. Red and Black fruit with some nice garrigue aromas as well. Not as much depth as I would have liked, but a nice wine. The Grenache really stood out in this wine, not a bad thing, just a lot of fruit.

2009 Domaine Singla Rivesaltes Ambré Héritage du Temps
Sweet, but not cloyingly so. Aromas of marzipan and a slight baked apple pie flavor I loved. Great depth and a steal at under $30 a bottle.

I like sweet wines, for many people they have gone out of style, but I think if they tried this they may understand. I also feel the value of sweet wines from Roussillon VDN wines blows Port out of the water. I'd take a great aged Banyuls over a vintage Port 9 out of 10 times!

Thanks for those notes, Kasey. Languedoc and Roussillon are fascinating regions and there are lots of discoveries to be made in their wines, usually at reasonable prices. For some reason the regions have never really taken off in the eyes of international wine lovers, unlike Priorat the other side of the frontier. This may be because there is such diversity both inside and outside the regional AOPs that consumers don't see a clear regional identity in the wines.

A few comments -

Limoux. You say that there is no Chardonnay in the Domaine Delmas. That may be so but the region does grow Chardonnay and IMHO is one of the few in France outside Burgundy where still wines from the grape are really successful. I have fond memories of a deliciously mineral one from Domaine de Mouscaillo. Chenin blanc is also grown there but I have been less convinced by its wines.

Domaine Oustal Blanc. I too have had some very enjoyable wines from this estate and would be sad if it has disappeared. I have done about half an hour's research in reference books and on Google. From French Google, I get several hits with my search including one indicating that the estate is at present "ouvert" for visits and this business site https://isabel-claude-fonquerle.business.site/ . This is not conclusive evidence of continued activity as I have noticed that French owners are often slow to update internet sites. In a couple of 2020 reference books, the RVF and Bettane/Dessauve guides, Oustal Blanc is no longer mentioned. Furthermore I don't get any hits on Wine Searcher. There is a Domaine Ostal at La Lavinière which confuses matters somewhat.

Rivesaltes Ambré. There are a lot of treasures in this appellation and also at Maury and Banyuls. They deserve to be as well known as port and Madeira but then the prices would skyrocket.

Hello Tim, thanks for the reply.

As far as Chardonnay in Limoux, I've heard that good chardonnay is grown there, but I have never seen one. The Blanquette I had was 90% Mauzac and 10% Chenin. When I see one I will definitely try it!

I hope L'Oustal Blanc is still around. Thank you for the link you posted. I worry because I cannot find any of their wine for sale anywhere, and even in Cellertracker their last new vintage was 2014. I'm hoping they are still making wine, because this wine was killer.

I'm also on board for the VDN wines from the area, just delicious wines that sell for almost nothing. I worry that much like Maidera when people realize the quality they will jump in price. Right now I can get great Banyuls for $20

Crémant de Limoux. I remember buying one for a friend to pick up at her LWS on her 60th birthday. She enjoys sweeter wines, and this was apparently a big hit. They killed the bottle before going out for dinner. Haven't had any, nor any non-Champagne sparkling wines from France yet. But it's on the list. Can be sources of decent value.

Ideas in the <$15 range welcome.

Cheers!