03
Dec
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Languedoc’s various sub-regions presented on that day.
First, I provide my take on the region, based on all the wines I tried ... then I score the wines I liked on a scale of Good, Better, Best (then I list them alphabetically).
MALEPERE - Rose & Red
Before today I paid little to no attention to Malepere, but after today’s tasting, it is on my radar. Three of four rosés / eight of 15 reds - delicious. The wines are primarily Merlot 50% - Malbec and Cabernet Franc (either / or 20%) + Grenache / Syrah / Cinsault. Once they get heavy-handed with oak, the wine falls apart and are uninteresting, but gentle hands make really fine wines. With that said: I've got my eyes open to Malepere.
Chateau Guilhem 2020 Grand Vin (Red) ... Good
Chateau Guilhem 2021 Vignes Du Levant (Red) ... Good
Chateau Guilhem 2022 Vignes Du Levant (Rosé) ... Better
Cointes 2021 Clemence (Red) ... Good
Domaine Girard 2020 Cuvee Neri Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Louviere 2020 Empereur Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Louviere 2021 La Seductrice Rouge ... Better
Domaine Rose et Paul 2022 Malepère Rosé Rosé ... Best 
Gerard Bertrand 2019 Château De La Soujeole Grand Vin Rouge Rouge ... Better
Les Vignobles De Vendeole 2020 442 Rouge ... Good
Sas Domaine De La Sapiniere 2022 Rosé Domaine Rosé ... Better
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SAINT CHINIAN - White & Red
I think the scores speak for themselves - there are some really good wines from this region and you seem to have plenty of choice.
Borie La Vitarele 2021 Les Schistes Rouge ... Good
Chai Julip 2021 Jo Rouge ... Good
Chateau Bousquette 2020 Prestige Rouge ... Good
Château Castigno 2021 Les Beauttés De Castigno-Piknik Blanc ... Better
Chateau Coujan 2021 Bois Joli Blanc ... Good
Château Du Prieuré Des Mourgues 2018 Château Du Prieuré Des Mourgues - Grande Réserve Rouge ... Better
Château Milhau-Lacugue 2018 Les Truffières Rouge ... Good
Château Milhau-Lacugue 2020 Cuvée Mia Blanc ... Good
Clos Bagatelle 2022 Bagatelle Blanc ... Good
Domaine Boissezon Guiraud 2021 Comme À Cayenne Rouge ... Good
Domaine De L'orchis Pourpre 2020 Tango Rouge ... Better
Domaine De L'orchis Pourpre 2021 Charleston Rouge ... Good
Domaine Des Pradels Quartironi 2019 Lou Cistus Rouge ... Good
Domaine Des Pradels Quartironi 2020 Skhistos I Blanc ... Better
Domaine Du Sacre Coeur 2019 Charlotte Rouge ... Good
Domaine Du Sacre Coeur 2019 Jean Madoré Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Bosque 2019 Cayenne Rouge ... Better
Domaine La Bosque 2020 Las Borios Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Linquiere 2022 Fleur De Lin Blanc ... Good
Domaine La Madura 2021 Canopé Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Madura 2021 Classic Rouge ... Good
Domaine La Maurine 2019 Confidence Rouge ... Good
Domaine Marie De Lauzerda 2020 4 Éme Pas Sur La Lune Rouge ... Good
Fortant 2021 Fortant Sélections Parcellaires Rouge ... Good
Lanye-Barrac Vitifarm 2019 La Rabidote Rouge ... Good
Les Orchis Du Mazet 2019 Les Orchis Du Mazet Rouge ... Better
Les Vignobles Foncalieu 2019 L'apogée Rouge ... Better
Mas Champart 2019 Côte D'arbo Rouge ... Better
Mas Champart 2020 Saint Chinian Blanc Blanc ... Good
Mas De Cynanque 2021 Plein Grès Rouge ... Good
Sas Domaine Des Jougla 2020 Ancestrale Rouge ... Good
Terres 2 Freres 2021 Signatures Xii Rouge ... Good
Terres 2 Freres 2022 Empreintes Rouge ... Good
21
Nov
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(February 2024) ... It has been some time since I visited the Romagna area of Italy, and much has changed in that time. When I was last there, they were just introducing the concept of sub-appellations; now they have added a few more. In fact, they started with 12 and have expanded to 16.
Marzano is the smallest of these sub-appellations. They are located south of Faenza and during the terrible floods of 2023, they found themselves in the fortunate position of not
being affected as much as other regions. Marzano also has a higher density of vineyards than other sub-appellations ... But they also only have three producers within its borders; Ca' di Sopra being one of them. We were toured and tasted around by one of the principal's, Giacomo Montanari (pictured above).
Established in 1967, Ca' di Sopra is a 52 hectare winery with 28 hectares of planted vines; 17 hectares of which are dedicated to Sangiovese with plantings of Cabernet, Merlot, Albana, Chardonnay, Trebbiano and Pinot Bianco. Their oldest vines were planted in 1989.
Up until 2004, they sold their grapes; then in 2005 they began making wine. At full capacity, they can make upwards of 150,000 bottles - but they are not ready for such a commitment - they still sell a majority of their grapes; holding back enough of the good stuff to create 40,000 bottles of wine under their own label.
In the cellar they use both small and tonneau barrels, along with concrete and stainless steel ... In 2015 they brought in a concrete tank, thinking it would work best with their white wine program; shockingly, it turned out that the reds benefited more from this technology.
The Wines ... (scores out of five stars)
2022 Trebbiano
Spends 6 months in steel and 6 months in concrete. This version of Trebbiano is salty, but with a richness of flavour: grapefruit zest, and a medium length finish all held together with a good acid backbone. (3.5+)
2022 Crepes, Romagna Sangiovese Superiore 
This is their flagship wine. It is a blend of all their Sangiovese vineyards. The wine spends 6 months in concrete, keeping its fruit character intact. Dark aromas of cassis and black cherry – palate has good acidity, but also good fruit. It's a gentle, easy drinking wine with cranberry, cherry, and strawberry fruit, along with some pencil shavings and graphite notes that swing in-between the punchy acidity. Quick finish and very sippable. This wine makes up half of the production: 20,000 bottles. (3.5+)
2021 Marzano Romagna
A 100% Sangiovese mixing three vineyards, three soil types, and the best plots. Soil types are calcarous, plus red and blue clay - and each type brings a little something to the wine. The fruit is delayed on the palate as the acidity seems to take charge from sip one. The wine spends 12 months in tonneau and another 12 in bottle before release. That delay pays off as the fruit sidles in, mainly red in nature, and sticks around for a long finish. (4)
2019 Marzano Romagna Riserva, Vigna Ca'del Rosso
A single vineyard wine from 40-year-old vines sitting at 120 to 160 m above sea level. First made in 2016, and quite possibly the best wine on the table today. Lovely dark fruit that delivers a delicious taste explosion in the mouth. It makes you want to sip and sip again. Silky tannins meet a smoky character, before the acidity slips in to balance the whole deal. Very supple. Hints of anise wrap their way around the palate - dipping and diving between the fruit, spice and even a subtle herbaceous note. Long luxurious finish. Gorgeous. 2,500 bottles produced. (4.5)
2019 Marzano Romagna Riserva, Vigna Montale
This vineyard is located at 250 m above sea level and is a new addition to the Ca' di Sopra lineup; so new in fact, this is the first vintage the wine has seen a commercial bottling. The higher elevation results in less intensity of fruit, higher acidity and more elegance than it’s Ca' del Rosso counterpart ... That translates into cherry and floral notes with a nice length - this one took a little longer to express itself, maybe an hour in the glass; then the fruits of cranberry and cherry intermingled with the floral. Pleasant. (4+)
