Weekend in Languedoc

The Languedoc is a vast and beautiful area of France, spanning the Mediterranean coastline from Spain to Provence. It has 700,000 acres under vine and is the single biggest wine-producing region in the world.  Today, Languedoc is a region whose terroir and potential is only just beginning to be uncovered. This week we are featuring 3 great examples of carefully crafted wines from the region.  These wines show the great potential of the Languedoc, and each are as unique and individual as their producers.

Le Loup Blanc La Mere
Grand $25.99

As the name implies, this is a wolf in grandma's clothing.  It starts off supple and soft, then WHAM, it hits you with some delicious intensity.  Made from a blend of Grenache Noir, Grenache, and Syrah, it is deep ruby in the glass with scents of crushed strawberry, cherry cola, dried orange peel, white pepper and cocoa.  The palate is a heady blend of red and black berries followed by crushed plums and orange flesh. Black pepper and a note of cool oak rides out on the lingering finish.

Domaine Font Mars Pic Poul $11.99

If you drive from up the coast from Barcelona to France, maybe stopping to pay homage to the now defunct El Bulli, the vines you’ll see just before the port city of Sete are those of Pic Poul de Pinet.  Both a grape and an AOC name, Pic Poul is very popular, and for good reason.  It’s the sort of wine you don't have to think about, just drink it and take pleasure in the dry, clean fruit with hints of lemon zest and sea shells.   This was one of our best-selling wines last year, and was out of stock for several months.  We’re glad to welcome it back to the store this week.

Domaine des 2 Anes Fontanilles $16.99

Magali and Dominique Terrier have worked in diverse wine-growing regions throughout France, and ten years ago, they found their ideal terroir in the Languedoc.  The vineyard is situated high on the hills covered with Mediterranean shrubs and soft red rocks.  Harvests are all done by hand and the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks—no heavy-handed oak here.  The wine is delicious with black cherry and dark plum, followed by notes of spice and chocolate.