The Languedoc-Roussillon (1,2) chapter in Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide (6th Ed.) has the sub-heading "Where the Quality and the Values Are", and gushes about the Midi:"...one of the undiscovered bastions of delicious, value-priced wines. Its relative importance to consumers continues to increase as wine prices from many of the world's best-know regions have reached absurd levels."
Well said, and it was these comments, combined with a rather good selection of Midi wines at the local monopoly, that led me to start my wine adventures in the Languedoc.
In that vein, I must commend Marcus for focusing the wine blogosphere on "Mid-priced wines from the Midi", as well as his rather extensive supporting info for the uninitiated.
My choice came to me by 'chance'. After agonizing for weeks over what to open for WBW 33 (yes, I do that sort of thing), my brother-in-law brought over a wine from Collioure, the 2004 Domaine La Tour Vieille 'La Pinède'. Having recently returned from the Midi, he told me how he loved the wines, and having stayed close to Collioure he thought he'd bring this wine over to share. I assume he meant I was supposed to share it with him...
In the glass this youngster displayed a dense, dark purple hue. On the nose this blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Carignan lead with butterscotch and stawberries, followed by cocoa, cedar, undergrowth, and wet fur, also showing a minty/nail polish remover finish. Very nice, very interesting. On the palate this dry, full-bodied red was very smooth and balanced. Inky, with chocolatey strawberries that concealed firm tannins, La Pinede had mild acidity and a short finish indicating that this wine is ready for drinking. A bit heavy on the alcohol, and a bit too much for the pasta in a goat cheese rose sauce, I would suggest this wine for sipping all by itself, or with some lamb off the grill.
14.5% alcohol
Score: 16.5/20
Cost: C$24 (SAQ)
Thanks, Marcus! And thanks to Lenn of Lenndevours for inventing WBW.
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10 comments:
Joe, this is excellent and not just because I shop at the same store as you. An awesome entry.
I gave you a hard time about your linking action because I couldn't resist when B'guy asked his question about URLs right after your comment with a broken link. It was a setup. I knew you could link with the best of them and always could.
(Thanks for the midi conseil bubbly notes -- did I tell you I drank too much at the Wines of New Zealand expo in Old Montreal last night? It was too much sampling, too little spitting and some notes, but none as good as yours -- no wonder my WBW 33 entry still isn't up.)
There he is! Thanks for the gentle ribbing - it seems if you leave the last backslash/ the link doesn't work - stoopid blogger. I was going to ask if you saw the bubbly notes. Sorry I missed the NZ expo - please flag those events for me in the future!
Joe,
Thanks for the recommendation of this wine. I shall seek it out in the US.
Andrew
Hi Andrew - Great wine, but the Cazeneuve and Lancyre (Pic St-Loup) are preferred...Cheers!
The image in your new header - very nice. Where?
Hi Edward. The picture is "Red Barn in Carneros", visible from the Artesa winery in Carneros, California. (see my Napa trip last year) I had been meaning to add a picture there for months, but never figured it out until now (rookie...)
Thanks!
Rookie? Rookie of the year perhaps! I still have not the faintest idea of how to get an image into the header and am too scared to try - after a series of misadventures fiddling with my template last year.
NZ expo was a comp ticket. Didn't even know about it until the weekend before. Tickets were... $55.
Have no idea if that is a standard rate but I think it's ridiculous to ask for that much money from people you want to sample your wine.
Nice redesign. You are a blogging pro now.
Ok, ok, that's enough. So how DO you include a link - must I know HTML, or is there some trick I am missing? Blogger makes it easy for compu-dopes like me, but in a comments section...how?
And secondly, how did you do this great redesign Joe? How to add the picture?
And thirdly, I thought you were doing the Chimeres wine too, based on your comments. This sounds like a real winner. I will look for it. I'm starting to think that we have access to different wines though...
Fourthly, well I don't have a fourthly yet, but I will get back to you...
Hi Edward, thanks...
Go to your page elements page, when you click on the header you get an 'add image' option. I think this is new, I don't recall blogger having this a few months ago.
Marcus - $55?! How did you get the freebie - did you pass yourself off as 'media'? :) It's not a redesign - I just added a picture! Funny how that picture changes the perception...
Brooklyn - just send me an email, address below my profile - I can't post here or it will be a link! no redesign - just a picture - I think it is a new feature - see my comments to Edward above. I considered the Chimere, but I did the Pinede instead because I thought no one else would. Total fluke, as it was a gift. You're in NYC - you should be able to find EVERYTHING! I would still recommend the Cazeneuve, Clavel, Lancyre over the Pinede, perhaps. I can't wait for the fourthly! (PS-How's the baby?)
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