Southwest France, Languedoc, Provence

We explored Cahors and Cotes de Gascogne in South West

France as well as Corbieres in Languedoc and Bandol in Provence.

• 2015 Domaine de Pouy IGP Cotes de Gascogne 10% abv
• 2014 Caussee du Vidot Cahors Malbec  12.5% abv
• 2015 Domaine Sainte Eugene Red Corbieres Wine  13.9% abv
• 2011 Bandol Chateau Salettes 15.5% abv

Link to Quizlet Study Set If you are not a member of the class, let me know and I will be happy to add you.

Menu

Korean Short Ribs: Beth

Korean pancakes: Dianne

Salad: Jan
Lots of soy sauce and sesame seed flavors in
all of these dishes.

The Wines

2015 Domaine de Pouy IGP Cotes de Gascogne 10% abv

Grapes: Columbard & Ungi Blanc
Side note: Jan likes this one.

My Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Clear and pale intensity. Lemon in color, slight petillance.

Nose: Clean nose, medium intensity. Aromas of green apple, grapefruit, wet stone and hay.

Palate: off dry, medium acidity(-), low alcohol, medium body, flavor intensity and finish. Aromas of grapefruit and apricot a little flint and mushroom. Dianne had lemon and lime flavors.

Assessment of Quality  (balance, intensity, length and complexity): very good quality

Level of readiness to drink: drink now

More Information

From Wine Searcher

Colombard and Ugni Blanc share characteristics such as high acidity, low alcohol and a neutral flavour profile, which make them more suited to the production of brandy than wine. Colombard is known to contribute peach, nectarine and citrus perfume to brandies, particularly Armagnac, while Ugni Blanc can bring white floral notes.

Wines made from Colombard and Ugni Blanc tend to be light, crisp and fruity, with some subtle citrus and green-apple notes.

Food matches for Colombard – Ugni Blanc wines include: Green salad with herbs and chèvre (dry), fish, seafood dishes

From Domaine de Pouly

SoilType: Clay-limestone soils and boulbene topsoil with ochre-colored sand known as sables fauves.

• Domaine de Pouy is an estate in Gascony, located just a few hours from Bordeaux at the foot of  the Pyrenees near Madiran and Jurancon. Many people might not be familiar with Gascony's local white wines, but they probably know the sub-region of Armagnac where one of France's most famous brandies is made. Pouy Côtes de Gascogne is a great opportunity to try classic Armagnac grapes: this 2015 is a blend of Ugni Blanc (aka Trebbiano) and Colombard sourced from Bas-Armagnac that's fermented in temperature-controlled tanks and aged on the lees for three months. Though Yves Grassa's estate is nearly 1000 acres, only the finest tanks are bottled and shipped to the US. Approximately 15,000 cases are imported annually, and, priced at $13, Pouy is a no-brainer for fans of dry French whites
• Flavor Profile: Medium-bodied, dry. Refreshing with shimmering acidity, this wine is loaded with apples, lime, and minerals. The crisp, stony finish is citrussy and clean. Pair with shellfish, apps, or just on its own

2014 Caussee du Vidot Cahors Malbec  12.5% abv
Varietal: Malbec

Region: Cahors is the home of Malbec, also known in France as Cot or Auxerrois. Its parents are a nearby Tarn variety called Prunelard and the almost extinct Magdeleine Noire des Charentes (the mother of Merlot). It reached Argentina via Chile in the mid-19th century. 

This wine is made in partnership with Altos Las Hormigos of Mendoza, Argentina

Side note: I loved the aroma!

My Tasting Notes:

Appearance: clear, deep intensity, ruby in color.

Nose: clean, medium(+) intensity.Aromas of black currant, blackberry, blueberry black currant leaf, licorice, cedar and leather.

Palate: off dry, medium(-) acidity, tannin and finish. Medium alcohol and Medium(+) flavor. Flavors of black currant, green pepper, chocolate, cinnamon/nutmeg with a little farmyard. Dianner ahd blueberry and blackberry.

Assessment of Quality  (balance, intensity, length and complexity)

Level of readiness to drink

More Information

Causse du Vidot Causse du Vidot 2014 Terrasses (bottled)

Some reduction; dark, spear-like elder, sloe and damson fruit with an almost raw but agreeably saline edge. On the edge of ripeness for me. 86

Read more here

Made with grapes sourced from selected parcels on the limestone plateau of Fages in Cahors, Cahors Cuvée ‘Plateau’ Causse du Vidot 2014 from Altos Las Hormigas is matured in concrete and Slavonian oak foudres. Packed with fruit and well-integrated oak, Cahors Cuvée ‘Plateau’ Causse du Vidot 2014 is excetionally well-structured, with fine grained tannins expressing the characteristic of the limestone soils of Cahors.

These are dark, pure, fragrant and nervy red wines with a fine-grained but nonetheless palpable textural presence and sustained acidity. The acidity is ripe and fruit-bonded: the wines drink well.

2015 Domaine Sainte Eugene Red Corbieres Wine  13.9% abv

Grapes: 40% Old Vine Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah
Region: Languedoc

My Tasting Notes:

Appearance: clear, deep intensity. Ruby color, tears.

Nose: clean. Medium(-) intensity. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black olive, coffee, fig, earth tobacco and savory meat.

Palate: dry, medium(-) acidity, medium(+) tannin, medium alcohol, medium(+) body and flavor intensity with a long finish. Flavors are black cherry, black olive flint, dried cranberry and leather

Assessment of Quality  (balance, intensity, length and complexity). Very good quality

Level of readiness to drink. Ready to drink now and potential for aging.

More Information

From Domaine Sainte-Eugenie

FOOD PAIRING: Barbecued, braised or roast beef, duck or lamb, pheasant, grouse, partridge, flavorful cheese.
 
TASTING NOTES: Rich, dark purple color. The wines presents a lovely array of fresh red berries, especially cherry and raspberry, with hints of flowers, spice and zest of orange. Full-bodied with rich, round tannins. Wonderfully complex and balanced. Satiny texture.

• Vinification: 100% destemming and crushing. The length of maceration is quite prolonged, usually a minimum of 20 days. A controlled, cool (77°F) fermentation. Malolactic fermentation follows, and blending occurs after 9 months of aging the 3 varietals separately.

More from Wine searcher Carignan contributes tannins, acidity and vibrant color to the mix, while Grenache delivers its trademark bright berry fruit flavors and high potential alcohol. Syrah – a generally better-rounded variety – serves to stabilize things a little, filling in the gaps with flavors of bramble fruits, cherries and sweet spices, and its natural balance of sugars, acids and tannins. 

Region: Languedoc Roussillon

If you've ever drank and enjoyed a French wine, there is a high chance that it hailed from Languedoc Roussillon, a hugely important historic wine region which produces over a third of the country's wine each year. Indeed, the output of Languedoc Roussillon even exceeds that of the entire United States, and has hundreds of thousands of acres of land under vine, growing a wide range of red and white grapes. Languedoc Roussillon is one of the oldest and most important wine regions in the world, with a history which stretches back over the millennia to the ancient Greeks, who adored the warm and humid Mediterranean climate which is ideal for viticulture. From still red and white wines, to dessert wines and cremants, Languedoc Roussillon truly has something of quality and character for everyone, and every palate.

2011 Bandol Chateau Salettes 15.5% abv

Grapes: 85% Mouvedre, 10% Grenache, 5% Carignan
Region: Provence
Side note: This is one of my favorite wines. I have purchased this before and will do so again.  Unfortunately this was the last bottle at Trigs and I am unsure what varieties they will continue to offer as they are under new leadership in Cellar 70.

My Tasting Notes:

Appearance: clear deep intensity. Garnet color

Nose: clean with medium(+) intensity. Aromas of blueberry, black currant, licorice, nutmeg, chocolate fig and tobacco

Palate: dry with medium(-) acidity, medium(+) tannin, high alcohol, medium(+) body, flavor intensity, and finish. The primary flavors were blackberry and licorice. Secondary flavors of cedar, Tertiary flavors of chocolate, prune and leather.

Assessment of Quality  (balance, intensity, length and complexity)

Level of readiness to drink

More Information

Wonderful bouquet. Deep red fruit with excellent depth and freshness. Awesome wine.

Dark dark red. Smoke, saddle leather, plums. Nice core of tannin and sprinkling of white pepper.

Wine Enthusiast Structured and firm, this is a tight wine with powerful, youthful acidity as well as a dense structure and dark tannins. It has weight as well, indicating a wine with excellent aging potential.

A mature and spicy definition of this rather traditional appellation which gives pride to the tones of pepper, clove and thyme. The fruit is fleshy, the supple material with firm tannins needed. To decant for more pleasure.

Wine pairing suggestions: Tasty red meat with powerful flavors (lamb, pigeon, ostrich, mutton) Feathered or feathered game