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Languedoc-Roussillon

Producers & Wines, Languedoc-Roussillon

Domaine Rimbert, Berlou, St Chinian :

Jean-Marie Rimbert first came from Provence to St Chinian in the early 90's and was attracted by the schistous terroir of this northern part of the St Chinian appellation. He has a passion for his old Carignan vines and from his very low-yielding vines he makes the unique Mas au Schiste, a real wine of terroir. The punning name refers both to the schist of the local soils and is also a self-deprecating pun on the hard work which Jean-Marie puts into his wines.

Coume del Mas, Collioure :

We came across Philippe and Nathalie Gard in 2003, two years after their first vintage. When we visited earlier this spring with some customers, we were able to toast their 10^th vintage.  Philippe was joined by Andy Cook as assistant winemaker a few years ago and the estate is going from strength to strength with a low production which sells out every year. The vines are situated on a number of small parcels on the high terraces overlooking the sea. The vines are in many cases very old - up to 100 years- and are very low-yielding; the wines are tight and concentrated but without losing their balance. The Schiste wine is made from pure Grenache from vines close to the sea; it is unoaked and bottled straight from tank. Quadratur, the flagship red wine of the domaine, is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre, and spends 12 months in oak. La Coume del Mas vineyard, one of the oldest in the domaine, goes into this wine. The dry white Folio Blanc is a powerful, spicy, barrel-fermented Grenache Gris. Besides the dry reductive wines, which fall under the Collioure appellation, the estate also produces the fortified wines of the Banyuls appellation. There's Banyuls Blanc, totally non-oxidised in style - like a sweet Folio - Galateo, a lighter, fruity red and then Banyuls Quintessence which is aged in 50% new oak; the result is a powerful impressive deep wine with plenty of fruit and spice. It is ideal with bitter chocolate puddings.

Mas Cristine, Roussillon :

Mas Cristine This is a beautiful property high in the hills between Collioure and Argelès sur Mer with great views over the coast. Philippe Gard and his partners have a long term lease on its 10 hectares which fall just outside the Collioure/Banyuls border and into Roussillon, The soil is a very similar schist to next-door Collioure/Banyuls, but is mixed with more earth and the terrain is a little flatter and more easily-workable than in Banyuls. Yields are slightly higher. The same wine making philosophy is at work here; low yields, and a gentle touch in the cellar. White is Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Gris and Maccabeu. Red and Rosé are Syrah and Grenache.

Consolation This is an experimental project between Philippe Gard and Andy Cook. Small batches of the best fruit from both the Coume del Mas and Mas Cristine vineyards are vinified separately from the main wines. This is an evolving concept, and the wines have changed from year to year. The first vintage, 2008, saw numerous trials, and this spirit has continued with the 2009 and 2010 vintage. The great successes like "Juliette" Roussanne, however, will become annual fixtures. The volumes produced are very small, usually just a barrique or two, so we cannot offer much continuity for these wines.

Tramontane This is Andy Cook's own project. He chooses parcels of grapes, some, especially Grenache, from some very old vines, and oversees their vinification in the co-op in Estagel. This is a great value wine from one of the most expressive and best suited terroirs for the expression of pure Grenache. There is also an aromatic Macabeu (blended with a touch of Muscat) and a Chardonnay. Screw cap closure for all three.

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