Le secret le mieux gardé de la France.

France’s Best Kept Secret

Our next tasting/dinner on May 8, 2019 will feature the wines of the Languedoc. If you've only just learned about this wine region, you're not alone. But, where do we start with an area this huge?  Production in Languedoc is almost three times what Bordeaux puts out, and more than the whole of Australia!

Languedoc. Pronounced "Lanhng-dawk," the name is easy once you know how to say it. The name of this southern French region literally means "speech" of the south French. Regardless of the language that you speak, there's one word that unites anyone who comes for a visit to this Pyrenees region, and that, mon cheri, is wine. ­

Influenced by everyone from the Greeks and their olive trees to the Spaniards and their Catalan, the Languedoc Roussillon region of Fran­ce is between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a prominent trade route.

Known today for the castles of Carcassonne, the breathtaking vistas and agricultural scenes of France, the 700,000 acres of the Languedoc Roussillon region is one of the world's most productive and affordable wine regions.

Apart from the cuisine, architecture and culture native to Languedoc, this area is one of France's several appellations in which noble grapes are grown. With this recent official AOC appellation title, the region is looking to find a way into the minds and meals of consumers everywhere.  The Pittsburgh Chapter is doing its part! The variety of red and white (but mostly red) French wines typical of this southern region are potent, but very modestly priced, and we’re going to sample several of them.

Famous Wines of the Languedoc Roussillon

Grape development is generational, not only in the way that fine wines are passed down throu­gh families but also in the creation of a new grape, something that takes around 20 years for researchers to create and grow. We’ve learned in previous tastings about the influence that climate has on wine. The Languedoc Roussillon's Mediterranean heat makes a strong grape.

RED GRAPES

CARIGNAN is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the Languedoc Roussillon region. This wine is high in alcohol, deep colored, full bodied with lots of tannin. It needs time to develop. When blended it adds structure and body.

CINSAULT probably originated in France and many regions use Cinsault for fruit. It’s usually combined with Carignon and Grenache Noir.

GRENACHE NOIR probably originated in Spain and is usually combined with Cabernet and Cinsault. Grenache is often used in Languedoc Roussillon to produce strong wine with deep color and flavor. This wine is low in tannin making it an excellent wine to blend with the higher tannin varieties.

SYRAH has been cultivated in France since Roman times. It produces a wine with the intense smell of violets, spices, green pepper and tar. It resists oxidation and ages well but needs several years to develop.

MOURVEDRE has been planted in Languedoc Roussillon since at least the 16th century. It produces a spicy wine with a deep opaque color when young with plenty of tannin and full bodied. It needs time to develop and goes very well with Grenache.

CABERNET FRANC is sometimes called as a poor relation of Cabernet Sauvignon, but the wines are lighter and more delicate in style. Cabernet Franc is usually blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.

MERLOT is grown in the cooler parts of the Languedoc and has become very popular. It gives a well colored wine of good quality and can be drunk young.

WHITE GRAPES

CHARDONNAY is one of the most famous wine varieties used to produce Champagne, Chablis and of course Limoux in the Languedoc. It produces a wine high in alcohol with a slight lemon flavor. More and more Chardonnay is vinified in Oak in this region.

GRENACHE BLANC is mainly grown in the southern part of the region. It produces wines lower in alcohol and with less flavor. It’s mainly used for Vin Doux Naturelle.

PICPOUL BLANC Is used in the production of Picpoul de Pinet which makes a dry, clean, slightly neutral wine.

MARSANNE came to the Languedoc from the Rhone valley and is generally blended to give body weight and aroma. It produces richly flavored, aromatic wines which age well.

ROUSSANNE also came from the Rhone valley and is a good wine for blending. It ripens late adding finesse and bouquet to a blend.

VIOGNIER has become increasingly popular in the Languedoc. It has a unique aroma and flavor and is usually sold without blending.

MAUZAC is the grape variety used exclusively for production of Blanquette de Limoux. These wines mature rapidly, have a fine bouquet with a slight apple flavor and a pleasant hint of bitterness and good acidity.

CHENIN BLANC came down from the Loire Valley and is useful in adding freshness and acidity to white wine blends. It can produce a crisp wine with good acidity and for this reason it is part of the blend in Blanquette de Limoux.

CLAIRETTE BLANCHE is probably the oldest white wine variety of the Languedoc. It’s used for the appellations Clairette du Languedoc and Clairette de Bellegarde and it is also used in Vin Doux Naturelle and Vermouth. This wine is high in alcohol and tends to oxidize quickly.