Other Languedoc Rouisillon Reds - TonghamTaster's French Wine Tasting Course week 12

The 12 month on-line course to help you learn about French wines - Top tips on how to get value when buying them - Reasonably priced up-to-date recommendations of what to buy and try in the UK - Bringing you the best of Tongham Village Hall wine tastings.

INTRODUCTION
Having covered the AOCs of Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc, Faugeres, St Chinian, Minervois, Corbieres and Fitou, what do we have left in terms of red wines from the Languedoc-Rousillon area? One might be tempted to say "Not-a-lot!"    However, we shouldn't miss out the undervalued Cotes du Rousillon or the unusual red wines from around Carcassonne.

Vineyards with Carcassonne in the distance

LOCALITY
The Cotes du Rousillon is on the Mediterranean coast on the border with Spain. In many ways it has more in common with Spain than France or even the Languedoc.  Perpignan is the best known town in the area.
Carcassonne is a beautiful well known tourist town at the edge of the Languedoc bordering on the South West of France.

VARIETALS
The Rousillon wines are dominated by the Carignan grape but may also contain Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre and Llandoner Pelut.
The red wines around Carcassonne reflect their position of being between the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.   Thus they contain the Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec but also the Mediterranean varietals of Syrah, Genache etc.  The AOCs of Cabardes and Malepere are unique in France for being allowed this unusual mix. The only difference is the Malepere does not permit Carignan.
  

THE WINES
In Rousillon the AOCs range upwards from the Cotes du Rousillon wines, through the better Cotes du Rousillon Villages wines, through those Cotes du Rousillon wines that include the village name on the bottle, such as Tautavel, through to the wines of Collioure. This latter Mediterranean town has an appellation all of its own.

The Carcassonne wines are those of Cabardes and Malepere (formerly Cotes de la Malepere).  The wines of Malepere tend towards the Bordeaux varietals whilst those of Cabardes tend slightly towards the Languedoc. 

THE TASTE
All of the wines this week tend to be quite rustically robust wines.   The Rousillon wines will have black and red berry fruits and perhaps some liquorice.

From Tesco

The taste of the Carcassonne wines will depend on whether the Bordeaux or Languedoc varietals dominate or if it is a real mix.  I think they are well worth a try as they have a unique taste for a French wine.

TOP TIPS
• The Cotes du Rousillon Village wines represent good value for money
• Cabardes is worth trying for its unusual blend and surprisingly is quite available in the UK even though it is not particularly well known in France.

HOMEWORK
For your homework this week you need to buy and try any of this week's more unusual wines. Remember that you will only learn about wines by tasting them.

Tesco - Bastide de Garille Cabardes 2009 - about £10 but currently discounted.
or Majestic - Château de Pennautier 'Terroirs d'Altitude' 2008 Cabardès - about £10 but less if you buy 2.
or Waitrose - Collioure Tramontane 2008 Roussillon, about £14
or look out for a reasonably priced Cotes du Rousilon.


Cassoulet Restaurant & Recipe in Carcassonne


FOOD PAIRINGS
The Rousilon reds go well with grilled red meat and also can match mature English cheeses like

cheddar

Why not try the Cabardes with a Cassoulet ?

COMING SOON
Next week we move on to the white wines of the Languedoc-Rousillon area, including the sparkling whites of Limoux.  We will also touch on the fortified wines of the area.  If you missed the early weeks of this course, it is not too late to catch up. Just click on the French Wine Course link at the top of this page.