Kim Marcus` Recommended Languedoc

Kim Marcus’ Recommended Languedoc & Roussillon Wines
For complete reviews, see the Buying Guide of this or previous issues or www.winespectator.com.
An alphabetical listing of all wines tasted for this report begins on page 275 of this issue’s Buying Guide.
TOP WINES
WINE
TOP VALUES
SCORE
PRICE
94
$28
CHÂTEAU CABEZAC Minervois Belvèze Grand Cuvée 2002
Rich, heady aromas of dark chocolate, plum, pepper and
spice. Full-bodied, with plenty of meat and pepper notes.
CHÂTEAU CAMPLONG Corbières Le C de Camplong 2003
93
SCORE
VIGNERONS DE ST.-FÉLIX DE LODEZ Coteaux du Languedoc
Les Hauts de la Brune 2004
$25
Fruit-forward, fresh and pure-tasting, with a gorgeous purity
to the raspberry, cherry and red plum flavors. Mineral,
graphite and spice on the finish.
$25
Luscious, with a beautiful expression of plum, dark cherry and
licorice flavors. Chocolate and Asian spice on the finish.
Suave, full-bodied red with ripe, rich dark plum, cherry,
cassis and roasted meat. Powerful tannins yet silky texture.
GÉRARD BERTRAND Fitou Terroir Les Falaises 2003
DOMAINE DE L’HORTUS Coteaux du Languedoc
Pic St.-Loup Grande Cuvée 2003
93
Powerful, exotic and luscious red fruit, meat and Asian spice.
Silky tannins. Chocolate- and licorice-filled finish.
CHÂTEAU CABEZAC Minervois Cuvée Arthur 2002
LES CAVES DU SIEUR D’ARQUES Chardonnay Limoux
Toques & Clochers 2001
92
$12
92
$75
92
$16
Full-bodied, with loads of plum, cassis, blackberry and dark
cherry flavors. Asian spice and pepper notes fill the finish.
DOMAINE DU CLOS DES FÉES Côtes du Roussillon-Villages
Le Clos des Fées 2003
Ripe, seductive red with a deep well of kirsch, cardamom and
dark plum flavors. Mocha, cream and spice on the finish.
CHÂTEAU DE FLAUGERGUES Coteaux du Languedoc
La Méjanelle Cuvée Sommelière 2003
Gorgeous aroma of rose hips, currant and spice with luscious
flavors of dark plum, smoke and mocha.
CHÂTEAU DE LANCYRE Coteaux du Languedoc
Pic St.-Loup Grande Cuvée 2003
92
$30
MAS FOULAQUIER Coteaux du Languedoc
Pic St.-Loup l’Orphée 2003
$18
Aromas and flavors of meat, dark cherry and spice. Chocolate
truffle and vanilla cream fill the intense finish.
PRIEURÉ DE ST.-JEAN DE BÉBIAN Coteaux du Languedoc
White 2003
$52
Opulent white, with a rich honeycomb aroma and luscious
flavors of white pepper, pear, mineral and spice. Long finish.
CHÂTEAU LA ROQUE Coteaux du Languedoc
Pic St.-Loup 2003
$30
Layers of dark plum, chocolate, cassis and cherry flavors.
Smoke and bittersweet chocolate on the finish.
92
$30
CHÂTEAU DE SÉRAME Corbières L’Icone 2003
92
$60
Lush, creamy and full-bodied, with concentrated flavors of
raspberry, smoke, dark plum, cassis and spice.
92
$14
Stylish and elegant, with layers of red plum, currant, red
cherry and spice flavors. Silky, creamy finish.
$15
88
$10
88
$15
87
$12
87
$10
87
$10
87
$9
86
$9
85
$10
/1L
85
$10
85
$9
85
$9
85
$8
Plush, bright, crisp and fresh-tasting white. Green apple,
citrus and marzipan flavors dominate, with cherry notes.
Light on its feet, with a delicious minerally sea salt component backed by dried cherry and raspberry flavors.
Robust red with fresh, structured flavors of dark plum, cassis,
spice and hoisin sauce.
Well-structured and fresh, with plum, berry and cherry
flavors. Firm whack of tannins on the finish.
BON VIVANT VINEYARDS Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d’Oc
Gala Rouge Collection 2004
CHÂTEAU DE SÉRAME Minervois 2003
89
Fresh and crisp, with citrus, apple and Asian pear flavors.
Well-balanced and structured, with hints of spice.
FRENCH RABBIT Cabernet Sauvignon
Vin de Pays d’Oc 2004
Robust and exotic, with loads of rich, ripe blackberry, kirsch
and cassis flavors. Excellent balance and structure.
$15
Blueberry and raspberry aromas and flavors, with mineral, savory herb and spice notes on the finish. Firm and balanced.
GEORGES DUBOEUF Shiraz Vin de Pays d’Oc Réserve 2004
DOMAINE DES SCHISTES Côtes du Roussillon-Villages
La Coumeille 2003
89
Well-balanced, with a creamy aroma and spice, mocha, raspberry and blueberry flavors. Excellent quaffer.
DOMAINES LISTEL Vin de Pays des Sables du Golfe du Lion
Gris de Gris Pink Flamingo NV
92
$12
Meaty, with a firm structure and a solid core of red plum and
raspberry flavors, with cassis notes. Deliciously mature Syrah.
DOMAINE LA CROIX BELLE Vin de Pays des
Côtes de Thongue White Le Champ des Lys 2005
92
DOMAINE DE SAUMAREZ Coteaux du Languedoc
Aalenien 2004
CHÂTEAU CAMPLAZENS Syrah Coteaux du Languedoc
Serendipity 2000
LES COSTIÈRES DE POMEROLS Picpoul de Pinet
Coteaux du Languedoc Hugues Beaulieu 2005
92
PRICE
90
Pure-tasting mineral, green apple and smoke flavors, with
notes of fennel and tarragon. Impressively structured.
M. CHAPOUTIER Côtes du Roussillon Bila-Haut 2004
Savory spiced aroma with concentrated flavors of dark plum,
mocha and spice. Impressive structure with plenty of elegance.
Juicy, with touches of richness to the dark plum, sandalwood
and spice flavors.
MAS DE DAUMAS GASSAC Vin de Pays de l’Hérault White
Le Mazet Moulin de Gassac 2004
Medium-bodied, fresh-tasting white, with crunchy apple and
citrus flavors along with some mineral and smoke notes.
TOP VA L U E S
WINE
(continued)
WINE
SCORE
PRICE
91
$16
Solid ripeness and density to the pear and citrus flavors, with
cream and spice on the clean finish.
CHÂTEAU MARIS Syrah Minervois La Livinière La Touge 2002 91
$14
Juicy, quaffable red, with concentrated cherry and spice
flavors. Medium-bodied, with a lingering finish.
ABBAYE DE THOLOMIES Minervois 2004
Velvety, with plenty of structure and a luscious array of cassis,
dark plum and dark cherry flavors. Smooth, spicy finish.
Very meaty and decadent, this has ripe, full-bodied flavors of
cassis, dark plum, chocolate and spice. Long finish.
TORTOISE CREEK Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays d’Oc 2005
LES JAMELLES Merlot Vin de Pays d’Oc 2004