A systematic Trio in Languedoc-Roussillon

One of the best known lands of Languedoc-Roussillon is Pic-Saint-Loup, playing, besides its current status of a simple "Coteaux-du-Languedoc", a motive role in the region. The consecration is highly expected and should take place until 2008… It has all the rights to be entitled as an A.O.C. (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée = controlled appellation of origin): dynamic producers, high lands, a meditarranean influenced climate, wines of great character… and versatile grounds – clayey, chalky and marly, making the Syrah, the Mourvèdre and the Grenache easy and refined (like the Cuvée Simon du Clos Marie and the Roc de Mates de Château Cazeneuve).

Languedoc’s second hallmark for sure is the terrain of Corbières with the nickname “the windy vineyard”. After being put into question for many years the producers have ended the reign of the Carignan for its output being qualitatively unsatisfying too often. For their renaissance they confide in the Syrah, which is as delicious as in the Rhône Valley but of a very different taste…..

Finally there is Collioure, a real jewel of French Catalonia, whose wines are of the same structural beauty and the same power as their historical monuments! Their secret is a unique schistous soil, the source of the freshness and complexity of their famous cuvees of the Cave de l’Abbé Rous, Coume del Mas and Mas blanc. Not to forget that Collioure also is a community of passionates, cultivating its grapes under very difficult conditions: on terraces of the 13th century covering the different cirques at the seashore. The work on the tractor there is so dangerous, that the producers work again with their good old mules!

2006, December 21 - © Saveurs

Other information :
• Collioure
• Corbières
• Coteaux Du Languedoc
• Languedoc-Roussillon
• Château De Cazeneuve
• Domaine Du Mas Blanc
• Coume Del Mas
• Château De Cazeneuve "Le Roc Des Mates"
• Clos Marie Pic-Saint-Loup "Simon"