Languedoc-Roussillon’s White Wines - TonghamTaster’s French Wine Tasting Course – week 13

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
This week, after 3 weeks of discovering the red wines of Languedoc-Roussillon, we discover their other wines – the whites, the sparkling wines and the fortified wines.

A White Coteaux du Languedoc

LOCALITY
White wines are found all over Languedoc-Roussillon, the sparkling wines are just from around Limoux south of Carcassonne and the fortified wines mainly come from the Roussillon area

VARIETALS
Sparkling – The sparkling wines of Limoux are made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Mauzac plus sometimes some Pinot Noir.
Dry White – The dry white wines may contain Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Picpoul de Pinet and other grape varieties.
Sweet White Vin Doux Naturels – These tend to be made with the various Muscat grapes.
Red Vin Doux Naturels – These tend to made of the various Grenache grape varietals,

THE WINES
Limoux claims to have been making sparkling wines since the sixteenth century and this is well before Champagne produced its first sparkling wine. The area around the town actually produces 3 different sparkling wines – in descending order of preference – Cremant de Limoux, Blanquette de Limoux and Blanquette Methode Ancestrale. The dull Mauzac grape can make up too much of the latter blends. The Cremant de Limoux can be the equal of any other Cremant wines in France.

Still and Sparkling wines from Limoux

Limoux also produces a dry white wine which is based around oaked Chardonnay and these can be quite a pleasant and cheaper alternative to Burgundy.

You will find light dry white wines made in the generic Languedoc appellations – AOC Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc. In my view most are fairly unexciting unless you are on holiday in the area and they are accompanying the local seafood.

Fortified sweet white Muscat wines come from Frontignan, Mireval, Lunel, Rivesaltes and St Jean de Minervois. They are made in great quantity by a number of cooperatives. I have to say that I prefer Beaumes de Venise from the Rhone valley. Again, worth trying if in the area with an appropriate desert.

In the Rousillon area you will find the vin doux naturels of Banyuls and Maury. These can make pleasant aperitif wines or the red ones make a great desert wine to pair with chocolate.

THE TASTE
The Muscat grape produces quite grapey wines.
The red vins doux naturels are quite raisiny.

TOP TIPS
• If you like oaked Chardonnay look out for a good Limoux still white. Last time I was in Boulogne Auchan I managed to pick up a Toque et Clochers wine from the Sieur d’Arques cooperative – rather nice and not too over oaked.
• Cremant de Limoux can sometimes be a pleasant value sparkling wine – again buy in France to get a good deal.
• For Chocoholics look out for a good bottle of Red Maury – easier to find in France than the UK.

HOMEWORK
For your homework this week you need to buy and try a white, sparkling or fortified Languedoc-Roussillon wine. As usual I have found it easier to find good ones at Waitrose:

Waitrose - Cuvee Royale Brut NV Cremant de Limoux - about £10.
Waitrose - Domaine de Felines Picpoul de Pinet 2009 Languedoc - about £8
Waitrose - Domaine Pouderoux Vendange Tardive 2005 Maury - about £11 for 50cl

Seafood lunch in Sete with Muscat and dry white wine

FOOD PAIRINGS
The whites go well with seafood.
The sparkling wines make a good aperitif and can also pair soft cheeses.
The Vins Doux Naturels reds are great wines for chocolate deserts or strong hard cheeses.
The Muscats make a good accompaniment to an otherwise healthy fruit salad.

COMING SOON
Next week we move on to the wines of the South West of France. If you missed the early weeks of this course, it is not too late to catch up. Just click on the Frech Wine Course link at the top of this page.

A Game of Spot the Imposter



Languedoc Crest on a bottle

 Our March event and sixth Tongham Tasters’ wine tasting evening was hosted by Steve and had Languedoc wines as it theme. However, he let us know at the beginning of the evening that one of the wines was an imposter and we had to try and spot it. This was going to be fun!

As well as Steve S, we had seven other intrepid tasters willing to play the game. Food was top notch and included some interesting saucisson sourced from Borough market, cheese, breadsticks and the usual palate cleansing celery and carrot sticks.

In order of preference after voting by the team, here are Steve’s wines and our views on them. Scores are in the order: John E, John S, Jane, Clive, Steve S and Sheila.

Definitely from the Languedoc!

1. Vinalba Cuvee Couture 2009, Argentian Red – Majestic £8.99
Incredibly with some very nice Languedoc wines in the line-up, the imposter won! Of our team trying to spot the imposter only Sheila managed it – well done! This was four of our team’s top wine of the evening and another two had it in their top three. It had a violet and liquorice bouquet and was both smooth and astringent. Some of the team found it a little too sweet. Scores were 12.5, 15, 19, 16, 17, 13. The wine is a blend of Malbec and Touriga Nacional. Not a bad little number from Argentina – quite a few would dance a tango with this wine.

2. Domaine Les Yeuses 2008 Syrah les Epices, Vins de Pays D’Oc – Majestic £6.99
For one of our team (John E) this was the top wine of the evening and another six had it in their top three. After the results were announced there was some sentiment that this wine should have won. It is one of Steve S’s regular favourite wines. Another slightly sweet wine the spiciness really came out. Some thought it was a Merlot imposter (woops – John E) but once you knew, it was obviously a nice Syrah (Shiraz) red wine. Clive found the bouquet reminiscent of his grandfather’s smoky slippers – it should be emphasized that this was his grandfather on his father’s side! Scores were 14.5, 15.5, 20, 15, 16.5, 12. At the price, a very nice wine.

3. Domaine Sainte Rose La Garrigue 2009 – Majestic £5.99

As usual, the lowest priced wine of the evening faired quite well. Two of the team had it as their favourite and another four in their top three. Scents of plum, tobacco, liquorice and chocolate it worked well in the top of your mouth but less well elsewhere. John E got this down as a red Grenache blend. Scores were 14, 15, 16, 14, 14.5, 10. At the price, this Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre blend is worth considering.

4. Roche Lacour Cremant de Limoux Brut 2007 – Laithwaites £10.99
Sparkling wines tend to do well in our evenings and this methode tradionelle Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc blend was quite pleasant. Jane though it was a Prosecco imposter but actually this is a Languedoc sparkler and it got better as you tasted it. Bubbly lover Sheila had it as her favourite wine and two more had it in their top three. Scores were 12.5, 13, 10, 14, 13, 13. A nice change to taste something from Laithwaites.

Jane translating Le Guide Hachette for Clive

5. Paul Mas Estate Carignan Vielle Vignes Savignac Vineyard 2009 – Majestic £8.99

John E impressed by getting the grape variety on this one and one person had it as the runner up wine of the evening. Only one other had it in their top three. Perhaps it needed to breathe some more, because it got better as time went on. Scores were 11.5, 15, 16, 15, 14, 10. Quite good scores for a red wine at number five!

6. Rocs Blancs AOC Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet 2009 – Majestic £6.99
Some found this too much like grape juice and Steve W had a bouquet of floor polish which I think he found attractive. Steve S found it too simple which I think is why it scored so lowly. John E found some redeeming features and thought it had been served slightly too cold and actually showed some life in it. The scores for this typical Languedoc white wine were 10, 11, 11, 11, 9, 7. This would be enjoyable with some Bouzigues oysters sitting outside in the Languedoc listening to the Cicadas – but it didn’t work well in Tongham!

Artistic shot of the evening's debris!

Overall a very good consistent bunch of wines and we had great fun playing “Spot the Imposter”. The change to Friday night seemed to work well for many and conversation on many subjects flowed as well as the wine. We’ll have to consider more Friday dates going forward. Well done Steve.

Next month we venture into Hampshire to taste wines at John S’s place in Farnborough. Date is April . Do join us. Click on Wine Circle at the top of the page for more details.  Where else can you have this much entertainment for just £10.