The Languedoc-Roussillon region produces mainly red wines, a good share is "Vin de Table" but most of it is "Vin de Pays". They are perfect as every day wines.
AOC wines are very interesting to follow as the techniques,
grape varieties and vineyards selected tend to improve the
quality of the wine. Some broad categories are:
Full-body red wine (
Corbières, Saint Chinian)
Medium-body red wine (Costières)
Light and dry rosé (Languedoc, Roussillon)
Dry white wine (Costières, Languedoc, Minervois)
Sweet red wine (Banyuls, Carthagène, Maury)
Sweet white wine (Muscat)
Sparkling white wine (Limoux)
The main grapes used in Languedoc Roussillon are:
Red:
Carignan: Most popular red grape variety grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Used as a blend, where it can account for as much as 60% of the cépage, it is late ripening, resistant to spring frosts, tolerant of heat and gives high tannin, extract and colour. Now popular in California and South America as well as Northern Spain, where it is known as 'Cariñena'.
Cinsault: Sometimes spelt Cinsault, this red variety is a popular constituent of the wines of Southern France, notably Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Midi. It is an early ripener, gives intense colour and flavour and can withstand very hot climates. It is one of the blending grapes of the South African 'Pinotage' where it is known as 'Hermitage' after the Northern Rhône region - why? nobody knows, as Cinsaut is neither used nor permitted in this region of France.
Grenache:
Thought to have originated in Spain, where it is known as
Garnacha, this is a hot climate red grape ideally suited
to the Languedoc region of France and the Navarra region
of Spain. It is primarily a blending grape, thin skinned,
so giving lighter colour. It is often used to add subtlety
to the more beefy southern reds. Has become very popular
in California and Australia where it can be seen as a single
varietal.
Syrah:
The classic red grape of the northern Rhône. It produces
intense inky purple coloured wines when young with a distinctly
spicy tone. As it matures it turns to deep garnet with evolving
earthy, stewed blackberry and damson flavours. It gives
huge extract and tannins and is capable of great ageing.
As 'Shiraz' in Australia it presents a more approachable
nature, more plummy and elegant when young but still retaining
that spicy character and intense colour. It is best suited
to hot climates and granite soils.
Mourvèdre:
Cabernet
Sauvignon: The classic grape of Bordeaux and the dominant
variety in all the top growths of the Medoc. A most fashionable
varietal, sought the world over and synonymous with rich
blackcurrant concentration, cassis and cedarwood. It is
a small grape, giving very deep colour and extract, quite
resistant to disease and capable of producing wines of great
longevity, elegance and structure. It is grown throughout
the winemaking world as both a single varietal and a blending
grape, where it imparts a classic quality to many local
indigenous varieties. It has been particularly successful
in Australia, California and South America where the long,
warm ripening season and diverse soils realise the grape's
true potentials. It has a natural affinity with oak, which
imparts the wonderful cedar and 'cigar box' attributes for
which the grape is famous.
Lladoner Pelut
Piquepoul:
Merlot:Responsible
for that delicious, plummy, soft style of wine it is an
ideal blend with the more austere Cabernet. It is an adaptable
grape that ripens early, gives great colour and fruit sweetness,
but is susceptible to spring frosts and to rot. It has become
extremely popular throughout the world in both its blended
and varietal form, especially in Italy, Australia and Chile.
It is used in the still wines of Limoux.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have replaced mediocre grape
varieties like Aramon and Alicante.
White:
Chenin Blanc or Pineau de la Loire is the grape-variety which produces the best white wines of Anjou and is used in the Languedoc-Roussillon. Chenin Blanc is used for dry and sweet wines such as Blanquette de Limoux. It is subject to noble rot and for that reason is harvested as late as possible, sometimes in November.
Grenache blanc:
Macabeu:
Clairette: This is a southern grape-variety and one of the oldest. It is used with others in white and rosé wines of Languedoc-Roussillon. Clairette is used for some "muscats" and for sparkling wines such as Blanquette de Limoux. Clairette gives a high degree of alcohol. It madeirizes quickly, which in the past was considered one of its best points, but nowadays is regarded as a fault. Aromas: peach and apricot
Roussanne:
Marsanne: White grape of the Northern Rhône and primary constituent of white Crozes-Hermitage and St.Joseph it is also a permitted blend for red Hermitage. It produces wines high in extract and alcohol with pronounced floral and almond characteristics. Often blended with the more refined Roussanne for a touch of elegance. Seen as a varietal in the Victoria region of Australia, notably Chateau Tahbilk.
Mauzac. Properly known as Mauzac Blanc. This is a white grape found only in the southern areas of France. It ripens late, so frost can be a problem in cooler climates. It is used primarily for making dry and sweet sparkling wines that can be very good if done in the better Methode Champenoise. The better examples have a unique dried apple character to them. It is often blended with Chenin Blanc. The best examples come from Gaillac and Limoux, where it is known as Blanquette an is the main component of a sparkling wine called Blanquette de Limoux.
Ugni blanc:
Bourboulenc:
Muscat:
There is no single Muscat grape but rather a family of grapes
- over 200 in total - to which the name Muscat is appended.
They are generally associated with aromatic, full flavoured
wines with distinct floral and musky tones. They can be
vinified dry, as in Alsace, sweet as in the Italian 'Moscato'
and fortified as in Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise etc. In Spain
the variety is known as 'Moscatel', in South Africa 'Muskadel'
and many wine lovers have enjoyed the sumptuous delights
of the Liqueur 'Brown' Muscats of Australia. The Languedoc
Muscats are made from Alexandrian Muscat grapes or the highly
regarded ‘Muscat à Petits Grains’ variety, or a blend of
the two. Depending on their age, these wines are drunk as
aperitifs, with foie gras or with desserts and sorbets.
Vermentino:
Rolle:
Viognier: A relatively obscure vine, difficult to grow and cultivate and capable of only tiny yields, Viognier owes its reputation to the fine wines it produces in the northern Rhône, namely Condrieu and Château Grillet. It has a distinct orange blossom and apricot aroma together with a golden yellow colour, huge weight of tropical fruits with a broad weighty structure and quite high in alcohol. It is produced to a lesser extent as a Vin de Pays in the Languedoc and there are also some plantings in California. Its low yields and associated difficulties are unlikely to elevate it to the commercial status.
Chardonnay:
The classic white varietal of Burgundy and perhaps the best
known and loved white varietal in the world. It is vigorous,
easy to grow but susceptible to spring frosts. It grows
well in cooler climates but can lose acidity if picked late..
Its typical varietal characteristics are honeyed, tropical
fruit flavours with toasty, buttery nuances. It ages well
and is totally at home with oak, which imparts vanilla and
butterscotch tones. Its diversity of style can perhaps account
for some of its worldwide appeal. It is used in Blanquette
de Limoux.
Viognier and Chardonnay have been introduced with success
in Languedoc-Roussillon.
Chardonnay is now the most widely used grape in the region.
Piquepoul grapes are used to make Picpoul de Pinet, a specialty
of the Coteaux du Languedoc region
Sweet white wine:
Muscat blanc,
Muscat romain or d'Alexandrie
Grenache
Sparkling white wine:The white wines of Limoux have been famous down the ages. Titus Livius praised them 2000 years ago, then in 1531 a Benedictine monk discovered the natural process which makes still wines sparkling, and the first sparkling white wines in the world were born. Blanquette and crémant wines arrived later - after a first fermentation, a second fermentation takes place in the bottle and the wine develops a froth. The old Blanquette method relies on natural fermentation, but in the modern production process, an activating liqueur is added to the base wine to bring about the second fermentation, and this gives the wine its dry or semi-dry character after about 9 months. Limoux also makes a white Appellation, fermented and kept in oak barrels. Click on the following link for recommended
books on wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon |
|
Back
to the history of Languedoc wines
