February has sped past us

 Before I w(h)ine a little more, I'll say a couple things about the most recent tastes. The area of Southwest France are not known age-worthy fabulous wines. For many years, it was mostly cheap plonk, wines with no distinction and very little flavor. Very little hit our shores because no one would buy it. But like every where else wine grapes are grown, prices for land skyrocket and good vinters seek out other locales to grow good grapes. Many of the vines were ripped out and better varietals were planted. The crops were cut down, to bring more intensity to the remaining grapes and there are a bunch of decent wines coming from this area. Are they wines to keep and try a number of year later? Nah, they are meant to be drunk now and at a price that if you get a clunker, you are not out too much. Now on to the wines!

2014 Domaine LaRoque , IGP Clte de Carcassonne, France


100% Cabernet Franc from the Southwest of France. Situated between the Pyreneese mountains and the Black Mountains, the area is mediterranian weather tempered by the Atlantic Ocean. Decanter said “ Cabernet Franc transfers perfectly to the Southwest France: a nose of raspberries, ripe palate with lovely middle fruit and good acidity. A most charming and interesting wine – Steven Spurrier.


This wine can be bought under $10 – a pretty good example of Cabernet Franc. Not much violet in the nose or taste, but good acidity and overall red berry flavor. I’d buy it again.

2013 Black Beret, Vin de Pays d’OC, Languedoc Roussilon, France

Black Beret is produced in the Languedoc, one of the largest wine producing regions in France that covers nearly the entire south of France. While Languedoc is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, Black Beret comes from the northern part of the Languedoc at the foot of the Black Mountains. As a result, it benefits from cooler weather, which results in a fresher wine with balanced acidity. Black Beret is a joint project between négociant Jean-Christophe Calvet and winemaker Hugh Ryman. Made in the style of the sun-drenched Rhones, this wine will seduce you with its rich, luscious fruit, pepper, spice aromas and soft tannins.

Nice label – the wine has a nice nose; good  red fruit. The mouthfeel is surprisingly lush, with good fruit, spice and a touch of tannins. An interesting mix of Syrah and Grenache – the two blend well, like a Rhone style wine. Another wine around $10 – a really good school night wine.

2012 Chateau Bellevue Peycharneau, Bordeaux, France

A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. On the palate, it’s full bodied, fleshy, structured and velvety. Good tannic balance; beautiful, savory finish, with long aromatic persistence.

Interesting note, this Chateau ages their wine in both American and French oak. You know something is different – not bad, just different, then you find out about the American oak barrels.

This wine had a big nose, with expressive fruit. Much darker and heavier than the earlier wines described, this big boy had dark fruit and vanilla running through the mouth. The finish lingered with quite a bit of tannic backbone. This is a wine you could age a few years and it would be better – and at a retail of about $20, you can’t miss with this Bordeaux Superior wine.

2011 La Atalaya, Red Blend, Almansa, Central, Spain

Roasted aromas of berry and hickory come with tons of char and BBQ notes. This is thick, almost to the point of being syrupy, while flavors of herbs, blackberry, creamy oak and mint are more savory than bright. If this were any more rich and oaky, it might be considered too fat and heavy.  87 Points, Wine Enthusiast

A big wine that is made of Monastrell and Garnarcha – this is one heavy wine. The review was pretty much spot on, a wine that really needs food, not a porch sipper. Surprising for a wine around $10; match any BBQ or grilled red meat with it.

2011 Terra Prima, Massis del Garraf, Penedes, Spain

Indicative blend: Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Syrah.  Terraprima Red, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Garnacha, and 10% Syrah aged for 12 months in seasoned French oak. Fresh herbs, olives, cherry, and raspberry aromas inform the nose of this racy red.

This wine is a little lighter, somewhat like a pinot. Works well with food, although too heavy of fare will overwhelm it. Raspberry is the prime flavor and the acidic balance is adequate. On sale for $10, well worth another bottle – no real aging potential.

Well - another month - I'll be back at the end of March with some more wines. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out in the grapevines! Dr. Wineaux