On the Road with the Grape Guy

Languedoc DIMANCHE 30 AVRIL – 2023

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(April 2023) ... These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day.

First, there is my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried … then the wines I liked are scored based on a Good, Better, Best approach (all lists are alphabetized).

CORBIERES – White

I'd classify these as “white wines” nothing to get jazzed about.

Chateau De Caraguilhes 2022 La Font Blanche ... Good
Domaine La Bouysse 2022 Cyprius ... Better
Famille D'exéa 2022 Blason De Sérame Blanc ... Good
Scea Chateau Montfin 2022 Sur Pilotis ... Good

CORBIERES – Red

It's a big area with an identity crisis, and there is not one style that dominates.
I tasted all 73 wines and there was as much good stuff as there was generic.
Ask me what makes a Corbieres wine and I'd be hard pressed to tell you.

Castelmaure 2021 Les Hauts ... Better
Cellier Des Demoiselles 2022 Rouge Demoiselles ... Good
Chateau Auris 2020 Chateau Auris ... Better
Château Etang Des Colombes 2020 Bois Des Dames ... Good
Château Fabre Cordon 2021 Qui M'aime Me Suive ... Good
Château La Baronne 2017 Alaric ... Good
Château La Baronne 2020 Les Chemins ... Better
Chateau Mansenoble 2019 Reserve ... Good
Chateau Mansenoble 2020 Montagne D'alaric ... Good
Château Peyrepertuse 2019 1240 ... Good
Chateau Sainte Lucie D'aussou 2020 Patz E Amor ... Good
Domaine De Fontenelles 2021 Elysée ... Good
Domaine Des 2 Anes 2021 Fontanilles ... Better
Domaine Fairjal 2022 Fairjal ... Better
Famille D'exéa 2022 Blason De Sérame Rouge ... Better
Famille Fabre 2020 Chateau De Luc Veredus ... Better
Famille Fabre 2020 Lux De Luc ... Good
Les Vignobles Foncalieu 2019 Chateau Haut Gleon ... Good
Sainte Marie Des Crozes 2020 Hector Et Juliette ... Better
Scav Les Terroirs Du Vertige 2019 Corvaria ... Good
Scav Les Terroirs Du Vertige 2019 Roc De Bonelli ... Good
Scav Terre D'expression 2021 Delicatesse ... Better
Scav Terre D'expression 2021 Fortes Tetes ... Good
Scea Ch Vaugelas 2020 V ... Good
Scea Château De Mattes 2020 Sabran ... Better
Scea Chateau Vaugelas 2021 Prieure ... Good

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LA CLAPE – White

This region had a 60% ratio of good to blah.

Château D'anglès 2022 Classique Blanc ... Good
Château De Marmorières 2021 Marquis De Raymond ... Good
Chateau Pech Redon 2022 Epervier ... Good
Chateau Rouquette Sur Mer 2022 Cuvée Arpège ... Good
Commanderie Saint Pierre La Garrigue 2020 Commanderie Saint Pierre La Garrigue ... Better
La Vendémiaire 2021 Les Arbres Blancs ... Better

LA CLAPE – Red

There's an herbal freshness to some of the better versions that help the fruit shine through.

Chateau Capitoul 2019 Oros Cayenne ... Better
Château De Marmorières 2020 Marquis De Raymond ... Best
Chateau Laquirou 2020 Ausines ... Better
Château Moyau 2018 Terre De Pierres ... Better
Château Ricardelle 2020 Vendredi XIII ... Good
Combe Des Ducs 2021 Pierres De Mer ... Better
Domaine Sarrat De Goundy 2021 Le Planteur ... Better
Gérard Bertrand 2020 Grand Vin Rouge ... Better
Scea Chateau De Figuières 2017 Impetus Rouge ... Better

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MINERVOIS LA LIVINIERE – Red

The best of these are light, fruity and exotic - there's a subtle elegance to them
Lovely fruit - subtle spice - exotic finishes. Fun wines.

Chateau De Gourgazaud 2019 Cuvée Mélanie ... Better
Chateau De Gourgazaud 2021 Pater Familias ... Better
Château Guéry 2020 Magnifique ... Better
Château Maris 2020 Les Planels ... Better
Chateau Sainte Eulalie 2021 Bellezour Anima ... Good
Clos Des Roques 2020 Clos Des Roques ... Good
Domaine Combe Blanche 2019 La Galine ... Better
Domaine Combe Blanche 2020 La Chandelière ... Good
Domaine De La Senche 2020 Cuvee Somi ... Better
Domaine De L'oustal Blanc 2019 Prima Donna ... Good
Domaine La Rouviole 2021 Caïssa ... Good
Domaine La Siraniere 2017 Excelsus ... Better
Domaine La Siraniere 2020 Les Capitelles ... Good
Domaine Les Combes Cachées 2019 Soleil Rouge ... Good
Domaine Tour Trencavel 2019 Domaine Tour Trencavel ... Better
Scea Chateau La Croix Martelle 2020 Terrasses De Sirus ... Good

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PICPOUL DE PINET - White

There is a a reason these babies love oysters - it's a perfect pairing
The best rival Sauvignon Blanc, while others show off other citrus and mineral flavours.

Cave Coopérative - Les Costières De Pomerols 2022 Picpoul De Pinet Beauvignac ... Good
Chateau Saint-Martin-De-La-Garrigue 2022 Picpoul ... Better
Domaine De Petit Roubié 2022 Picpoul De Pinet Château ... Better
Domaine Félines Jourdan 2022 Aop Picpoul De Pinet ... Good
Flores - Les Vigneorns De Florensac 2021 Picpoul Selection ... Good
Hecht & Bannier 2022 Picpoul De Pinet ... Better
La Croix Gratiot 2022 Syndical ... Good
Les Vignerons Montagnac Domitienne 2021 Haerentia ... Good
Les Vignerons Montagnac Domitienne 2022 M Comme Montagnac ... Better

Chilean Wine Tasting 2023

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(November 2023) … This year’s Chilean event was held in a much smaller room than in year’s past, which made for a cramped show, so you made friends quickly; and bumped into them often

Chile is broken into 3 Regions - North to South
Andes / Costa / Entre Cordilleras

... and 16 Valleys (click the pictures above to explore mine)

Copiapo Valley - Huasco Valley - Elqui Valley - Limari & Choapa Valleys -
Aconcagua Valley - Casablanca Valley - San Antonio Valley - Maipo Valley
Cachapoal Valley - Colchagua Valley - Curico Valley - Maule Valley
Itata Valley - Bio Bio & Malleco Valleys - Cautin Valley - Osorno Valley

Last year, I named a winery of the tasting. This year it’s a completely different winery, and they had the most wines I tried that were scoreable, and good scores at that.

This year’s winery was Vina Sutil Wines – from the fruit driven Chardonnay to the Carmenere with its own frame of reference, without leaning on everyone else’s version of the grape. The Cabernet delivered on purity; and their blends, especially Acrux were wonderful wines to sip on – this winery just seemed to be showing off with each wine.

Winery of the tasting: Vina Sutil Wines

Vina Sutil 2022 Gran Reserva
(Chardonnay)
Vineyard is 25km from ocean; This wine shows off with plenty of fruit, loaded with green apple freshness backed by lovely acidity ... (****+)

Vina Sutil 2020 Acrux 
(Carmenere / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Malbec / Petit Verdot)
Spicy yet still silky; pretty, dark berries, pencil shavings – this wine is aged in 3000L foudres to keep the fruitiness front and center ... (****+)

Vina Sutil 2023 Bella
(Garnacha Mourvedre)
Pretty fruit with good acidity ... (****)

Vina Sutil 2022 Gran Reserva
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
Good mouthfeel: blackberry, plum, smoked cherry ... (*** ½+)

Vina Sutil 2021 Limited Release
(Carmenere)
Pure fruit and fun ... (*** ½+)

Vina Sutil 2022 Gran Reserva
(Merlot)
Good fruit core and even though the wine spends 10 months in oak, it never gets in the way of the fruit; a nice balancing act. ... (*** ½)

Best of the Rest …

Casas del Bosque 2021 Pequenas Syrah  
Silky black cherry with a nice spicy finish ... (****+)

Perez Cruz 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Piedra Seca  
Spice, plum, and blackberry - very approachable; 1st ever production of this wine - well worth the wait … (****+)

Casas del Toqui 2021 Gran Toqui Cabernet Sauvignon  
Smoky and smooth with nice berry fruit, vanilla, spice and a silky finish ... (****)

Concha y Toro 2022 Diable Crystal 
(Sauvignon Blanc)
Young, fresh, lively and clean - drop of herbal with lots of fruity freshness ... (****)

Errazuriz 2021 Aconcagua Costa
(Pinot Noir)
Pretty floral, cran-cherry, gentle and easy across the palate, but with good acidity ... (****)

Montes 2021 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon  
Smooth and silky; easy drinking - lots of blueberry and plum ... (****)

Perez Cruz 2020 Pircas Cabernet Sauvignon  
Black cherry and blackberry; this is a nice sipping wine ... (****)

San Pedro 2021 Sideral
(Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah / Carmenere / Cabernet Franc / Petit Verdot)
Silky smooth, plum, black cherry with a smoky finish ... (****)

Tarapaca 2020 Gran Reserva Etiqueta Azul
(Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah / Cabernet Franc)
Lovely length, spicy, plum, blueberry and mocha ... (****)

Casas del Bosque 2023 La Cantera
(Sauvignon Blanc)
Richer and fuller bodied from their regular Savvy B, this is due to the lees contact ... (*** ½+)

Casas del Toqui 2023 Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc  
Fresh, bright and clean ... (*** ½+)

Montes 2021 Alpha Chardonnay  
A little spicy with good acidity ... (*** ½+)

Santa Carolina 2020 Reserva de Familia
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
Minty and easy; this is an after eight in the glass wrapped in cassis and blackberry ... (*** ½+)

Leyda 2022 Reserva
(Sauvignon Blanc) 
Lordy there's a nice grapefruit, that’s fresh, fruity and zippy - good length on the finish ... (*** ½+)

Tarapaca 2022 Gran Reserva
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
Spice driven, smoky, plum and other dark fruits ... (*** ½+)

Arboleda 2022 Chardonnay  
Fresh and light ... (*** ½)