Languedoc is a wine region in France that has some of the oldest vineyards in the world. With over 700,000 acres, Languedoc is one of the largest producing regions on the planet. The Mediterranean climate makes it easy to grow grapes as does the soil which can vary from gravel and chalk-based to alluvial and limestone. In 2001, Languedoc produced more reds and whites than all of the regions in the Unites States put together. Languedoc produces the majority of grapes from what is called the, “Wine Lake.” The wines that are produced on the coast wear the label, Languedoc. The vineyards that are located on the top of the older riverbed stones are rated higher than other wines grown in the Languedoc region. The majority of Languedoc wines are made by more than 500 wine cooperatives with the best known appellations in the Saint Chinaian AOC, The Gaugeres, the Cobieres AOC and the Saint-Chinaian AOC. Because Languedoc is going through changes, there are new appellations that have been created with some of the older ones being changed. Although mainly known for wine, Languedoc also harbors a huge textile industry that is known all over the world.
Shiny gold the wine is lively and crisp, with medium-bodied notes of melon, citrus blossom and flowers. Perfectly balanced between richness, fruitiness and freshness.
Excellent with seafood (scallops and fish) as well as poultry (chicken and turkey)
Baron Ermengaud Faugeres Rouge is made from 80% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5%, Mourvèdre and 5% Carignan.
The Baron Ermengaud cuvée is named after the lord Ermengaud de Fouzilhon. In the 12 century, the Lord gave land, which was located in Laurens Village, to monks, who built a monastic barn. The monks (Benedictine and then Cistercian) used to cultivate the vineyards, using techniques that were quite wise and modern at the time. The people of Laurens enjoyed and benefited from learning their methods.
This Faugeres is dark red with shades of black cherry. A large complexity of aromas allows us to savor a mix of sun fruits and spices. This powerful and full-bodied wine, with a deep consistency, offers an intensity of ripe fruits. It has a long, rich palate on velvety tannins with raised hints of pepper.
Pairs with roast saddle of lamb with juniper berries; peppered venison with pears.
Review:
"Les Crus Faugères is the only cooperative in this appellation, managing 2,223 acres or nearly half of Faugères’ vines. It puts out a vast array of labels, including Mas Olivier, also recommended here, but Baron Ermengaud was the standout for both its 2019 and 2018 reds. Mostly syrah (80 percent), with grenache, carignan and mourvèdre, all of it hand-harvested off schist parcels, the 2019 shines in its combination of earthiness and brightness. Lively acidity and herbal notes give it a just-picked freshness that energizes the red fruit; the clarity allows a clear view of the earth, too, in shades of schist and iron. It tastes like it’s from a place, with a sense of sun and garrigue that’s transporting."
Wine & Spirits Magazine (June 2021), 94 points
Cap Cette Picpoul de Pinet is made from 100 percent Picpoul de Pinet
A very popular, traditional local variety planted on sun-drenched hillsides called "costières" (coastal region) in the Mediterranean garrigue, near the Etang de Thau - a coastal lagoon situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan.
The color is a superb pale yellow with bright hues. The nose is elegant, with aromas of fresh fruit and citrus fruit especially grapefruit. Well-balanced with typical focusing and zesty acidity. A pure expression of the grape varietal, the wine shows how good Picpoul can be when grown on its favorite terroir.
It will complement a vast array of dishes such as Asian cuisine, sushi, spicy fare and all sorts of seafood and grilled fish. Enjoy!
Castelmaure Corbieres Vin-Gris (Rose) is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Cinsault.
Pale pink rose color, a classic gris de gris wine with salmon hues.
Delicate strawberry nose, seamless and fine pointed.
Delicious as an aperitif, it is also great when paired with seafood, salads, Asian-Thai cuisine, grilled fish and tajines.
Castelmaure La Buvette is made from 60% Grenache, 40% Carignan
Vinification: Grenache - destemming in low temperature, short maceration..
Carignan - carbonic maceration.
Fining, filtration, cold stabilization.
A purple color, intense aromas of strawberry and cassis. Fresh and fruity in the mouth with silky smooth tannins. Great as an aperitif, it also pairs well will grilled meats, salads.
Cote 125 Corbieres Rouge is made from 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah.
Brambly berry, cherry and raspberry, spices, black pepper … all are present in this authentic French country wine. There are also some aromas of Garrigue (Rosemary, thyme and lavender) giving a minty, herbal notes, that are quite refreshing as well.
The wine is a perfect match with a nice rosemary marinated roasted lamb.
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Le Jade Chardonnay is made from 100% Chardonnay
The wine comes from south-facing vineyards planted on clay and limestone hills overlooking the Etang de Thau, a coastal lagoon situated between the port of Sète and Cap d'Agde.
Le Jade Chardonnay offers a wonderful yellow color, a complex nose of white flowers, mild tobacco and vanilla. Rich and full-bodied mouthfeel; concentrated with just a touch of sweetness.
Serve with a gratin of scallops, pan-fried sole, or grilled oysters with shallots, parsley and a touch of cream. Also great with goat cheese or chocolate cake!
Le Jade Sauvignon Blanc is made from 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine comes from sun-drenched vineyards planted on the best terroir, selected for its physical and geographical characteristics, on clay and limestone hillsides called "costieres" (coastal region), only a few miles away from the Etang de Thau - a coastal lagoon that is situated between the port of Sete and Marseillan.
This Sauvignon Blanc boasts a silvery straw color. Crisp and fragrant white wine with wonderful aromatic intensity, fresh exotic notes, delicious fruity aromas of citrus and gooseberry. A great varietal expression, this is a zesty and refreshing wine that lingers on the palate.
Le Jade Viognier is made from 100 percent Viognier
The wine comes from sun-drenched vineyards planted on the best terroir - specially selected for its physical and geographical characteristics - on clay and limestone hillsides called "costières" (coastal region). The vineyards are only a few miles away from the Etang de Thau, a coastal lagoon that is situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan.
The color is a wonderful brilliant yellow with pearl tints. Intense and seductive aromas of ripe fruits, especially apricot, and floral notes with a hint of rose petals. The texture is very harmonious, generous, round and long. The finish is long and balanced with a good freshness.
Perfect as an aperitif, or great with richer dishes like langoustines, smoked or marinated salmon. Great too with guinea fowl in creamy or curry sauce. Serve it also with a broccoli and Roquefort soup or for dessert with a mango and pineapple tarte Tatin. An extremely versatile wine!
Review:
"This 100% Viognier comes from some of the region’s best vineyards, whose clay and limestone soils lend mineral and chalky notes. Night-picked fruit receives extended skin contact prior to partial cold fermentation in tanks (with a small percentage fermented in oak) and subsequent aging on the lees in large vats. No malolactic is done, which helps the wine retain its freshness as it presents the ripe tropical fruit, citrus, and apricot that define its profile along with a round, harmonious texture and floral notes such as rose petal. Pour it by the glass as an apéritif, or pair it with seafood dishes or a good blue cheese like Roquefort."
- The Somm Journal (April/May 2022)
Le Jade Viognier is made from 100 percent Viognier
The wine comes from sun-drenched vineyards planted on the best terroir - specially selected for its physical and geographical characteristics - on clay and limestone hillsides called "costières" (coastal region). The vineyards are only a few miles away from the Etang de Thau, a coastal lagoon that is situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan.
The color is a wonderful brilliant yellow with pearl tints. Intense and seductive aromas of ripe fruits, especially apricot, and floral notes with a hint of rose petals. The texture is very harmonious, generous, round and long. The finish is long and balanced with a good freshness.
Perfect as an aperitif, or great with richer dishes like langoustines, smoked or marinated salmon. Great too with guinea fowl in creamy or curry sauce. Serve it also with a broccoli and Roquefort soup or for dessert with a mango and pineapple tarte Tatin. An extremely versatile wine!
Mas Olivier Faugeres Rouge Expression is made from 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre.
Dark color with a deep purple hue. Intense nose with ripe red berries notes which reveals after breathing herbal notes of pepper, incense, cardamom and chili. It is a well-structured wine with powerful and fine tannins.
The wine is produced from a unique plot nested in hilltops, at 400 meters above sea level on rich schist soils. The grapes are selected with love and great care (optimum maturity checks and berry tasting before the hand harvest). Each variety is harvested separately on different dates to ensure the best quality and the perfect homogeneous blend “expression” of the AOP Faugères terroir.
Pair with roasted rib of beef with porcini mushrooms. Game dishes with candied turnips, cheese.
Pomerols Beauvignac Syrah Rose is 100% Syrah
Pink colored, firm in the style of a Tavel rosé, the wine shows strawberry aromas, candy notes on the nose and cherry and pomegranate flavors on the palate. The wine is silky, elegant, crisp and refreshing.
The Syrah is bled off after 8 hours of maceration.
Pomerols Picpoul Pinet HB Languedoc is made from 100 percent Picpoul.
Pale yellow color with green tints. Fresh and fine aromas of grapefruit and exotic fruit. Lime flavors, with typical focusing acidity, are hallmarks of Picpoul. Our best value, this wine impresses novices and hardened geeks equally.
Masseto 2020 is a wine that has embraced all the key traits of the vintage. It displays excellent concentration both in terms of colour and bouquet. They remain persistent and vivid in the glass without subsiding over time. The potency of this wine returns on the palate with beautiful length and balsamic flavours. The integrity of the tannin reveals the ageing potential typical of Masseto.
Review:
Intense and full on the nose, fragrant with ripe black fruit, floral aspects and soft spicing. Round and full on the palate, it's rich and muscular yet tight and neatly coiled with a liquorice, graphite, pepper, cinnamon and clove tang that gives this immediate but enjoyable spice. Feels well worked, juicy with high acidity that lifts the palate and gives freshness and brightness alongside really quite mouthwatering strawberry and raspberry fruit with such captivating dried floral and bitter orange rind aspects. Tannins are super fine and so well integrated yet this maintains a grip and hold from the very beginning through to a long and sustained finish. Nuanced and complex, still packing a punch in terms of power, but this feels sophisticated, suave, purposeful and controlled. Not elegant, this is more of a caged animal with it's full potential yet to be unveiled, but it is classy. A truly delicious wine with so much purity and sense of place. Malolactic fermentation in 100% new barroques, with each batch kept separate for the first 12 months of ageing before being blended and returned to barriques for another year, totaling 24 months. The wine was then aged for a further 12 months in bottle before being released.
-Decanter 100 Points
Morlet Family Vineyards En Famille Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
For generations our family has been growing the Pinot Noir grape in France. Each harvest, we love to celebrate this time-honored commitment while our children stomp a small vat of Pinot Noir from California’s Sonoma Coast. As for any family celebration or casual gathering, this handcrafted wine is to be appreciated ‘En Famille.’ Intense raspberry, wild strawberry, forest floor and earthy notes (graphite), very rich and complex with a leathery lingering finish. Will age gracefully for over a decade.
Propietary Name En Famille
Name Meaning With the family (with kids’ help) 5 generations with Pinot Noir
Varietal composition Pinot Noir (100%)
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Fort Ross-Seaview
Vineyard singularity On the 2nd ridge off Pacific Ocean 1,100 feet of elevation Goldridge sedimentary soil
Typical harvest date October Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck Sorting Cluster by cluster, berry per berry
Fermentation Through native yeast Punch downs Puncheons only Upbringing 14 months French oak from artisan coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time 10+ years
Serving Slightly below room temperature No decanting
Review: