Jul 16 2009
WINE TASTING: Marvelous Minervois!
| Jul ’09 |
| 18 |
| 2:00 pm |
WINE TASTING: Marvelous Minervois!
Rustic elegance from southern France
Sat. July 18, Belmont 2-5pm
white
2008 DOMAINE MASSIAC V.D.P. Viognier $14.99 (Minervois, southern France)
Dom. Massiac is owned by Bernard & France Boudovresques in the heart of Minervois. Their exceptional Viognier has none of the heaviness or 
overly ripe fruit that characterizes many southern whites. The Massiac Viognier offers beautiful balance, refreshing acidity, and minerality in a lush package. Refined and elegant white for an unbeatable price!
red
2006 JACQUES de la JUGIE Minervois $9.99
Minervois are in general more supple and balanced than many other wines from France’s deep South, even though the same grape varieties are employed. A touch of wood underneath serves to support the soft dark fruit with a hint of spice.
2006 CHATEAU COUPE de ROSES Minervois $12.99
Blend of old vine Carignan and Grenache along with a healthy dollop of Syrah, this southern France red is bursting with black fruits, raspberry, spices and pepper. Wonderfully expressive and smooth, this grill-ready red is perfect for the weekend and all through summer!
2006 “C” de CENTEILLES Minervois $17.99
Blend of Picpoul Noir (90%) and Riveirenc Noir (10%) 
aged 12-18 mos in steel. From winemakers Daniel & Patricia Boyer-Domergue:
“C de Centeilles is the accomplishment of the work of a lifetime, and of the will of its winemakers to restore the originality of Languedoc wine through ancient and almost lost grape varieties. This wine, of a beautiful ruby red, expresses aromas of raspberry, cherry, licorice and fine herbs. The supple tannins support its fruity body enhanced by a crisp acidity. Serve slightly chilled.”
2006 CHATEAU MASSIAC Minervois $16.99
Château Massiac’s red wine from Bernard & France Boudovresques is a powerful blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Carignan. The vines are grown in rocky clay-limestone soil, a geologic composition common to the estate. It is dark in color and quite richly-fruited when young, with dominant flavors of black currant. As the wine ages, these primary fruit aromas transform into more complex herb/garrigue characteristics.
1995 CAMPAGNE de CENTEILLES Minervois $25
90% Cinsault. Can Minervois age? Winemaker Patricia Boyer-Domergue has long insisted that it can, and very well, thank you. This 1995 
Minervois was imported for us directly from the estate’s cellar. This Campagne de Centeilles bottling is made primarily from Cinsault and the balance is Syrah. The color of the wine at this point is similar to the color of a traditional Barolo –lighter garnet fading into brick. In the nose, the wine offers fine and complex aromas of baked cherries and plums, soy, bittersweet cocoa, beef consomme, mint, and green tea, seamless and fine in its aromatic complexity. On the palate, the wine is sublime; its silky texture washes over the palate with ethereal flavors of roasted cherry, grilled pit fruit, and amazingly powdery, bitter cocoa tannins.
