Tasting: The Great Wines of the South

OUR TASTING REPORT «Les Grands Vins du Sud»:

Discover the tasting report by Didier Frayssou from our Oenoschool tasting of January 16, 2016, and enjoy our review of 10 different great wines!

Antoine Arena Patrimonio Blanc 2003 Grotte di Sole

A golden colour with green highlights and a moderately expressive nose of flowers, honey, dried fruits, quince and cream. On the palate, this wine delivers an oily and powerful profile, with a slight bitterness on the finish.

Palette Château Simone Blanc 2000

The colour is gold / old gold, and considerably more evolved than that of the previous wine. On the nose, one finds toasted notes, dried fruits, butter and a hint of honey. The palate offers a very fine acidity/alcohol balance and a lovely length with a beautiful aromatic expression. A very pure wine that drinks like a great Côte de Beaune...

Domaine de Montcalmès 2013

The colour is very intense, violet-hued and brilliant. The nose reveals floral notes, a touch of leather, blackcurrant, blackberry and pepper. The palate is currently somewhat angular, with pronounced tannins and a lively acidity. A wine to keep for a few more years to fully appreciate its beautiful purity.

Grange des Pères 2012

The colour is moderately intense, ruby, slightly hazy and a touch evolved. The nose is splendid. One can detect morello cherry, pine resin, eucalyptus, liquorice and soft spices. The palate reveals great concentration, a particularly silky attack, with a splendid balance and length. It already drinks magnificently well today.

Mas Jullien 2009

The colour is opaque with violet highlights. The nose is rather unexpressive, revealing aromas of dark fruits, liquorice and graphite. The palate is very well balanced; the tannins are well present but nicely ripe. A wine that will require a little more patience to express its full potential.

Peyre Rose Clos des Cistes 1998

The colour is opaque, ruby, with terracotta highlights. The nose reveals smoky aromas of tobacco, garrigue, crushed strawberry and flowers… Absolutely magical! The palate is broad yet particularly velvety. The tannins are present but very silky. The length is remarkable.

Tempier La Migoua 2008

The colour is intense, ruby, with violet hues. On the nose, one finds jammy strawberry/raspberry, graphite and cocoa. The palate is very well balanced, even though the tannins are still quite perceptible and the expression still restrained. A wine with great potential!

Trévallon 2004 Rouge

The colour is more intense, hazy, with slight signs of evolution. The nose is complex, featuring garrigue, tobacco, crushed red fruits, flowers and eucalyptus. The palate is full and well balanced, with a very fine aromatic nobility. The finish, tannic, calls for a few hours of decanting or an additional 4 to 5 years of cellaring.

Tour du Bon 2001 "d'Ici"

Opaque ruby colour with brown hints. The nose is cooked, featuring dark fruits, chocolate, prune and dried fig. On the palate, the perception of sweetness is very restrained. A very fruity, tannic wine with a very well-integrated alcohol content despite its 16.5°.

Bonus!

The intruder wine: Domaine de l'Horizon "Esprit de l'Horizon 2014 blanc"

Pale yellow colour with a few green highlights. The nose is floral, with white fruits and grape. Without being of very great volume, the palate is refreshing and displays a balance far more northern than southern! A wine that could be described as rather simple yet very effective in terms of immediate pleasure! Tempted by purchasing great wines from southern vineyards? Discover our selection at the best prices on Vins & Millésimes!