BACK IN THE MIDI

We are back at our house in the Languedoc for New Year, with two good bottles, from two of our favourite appellations, to welcome us.

2008 Picpoul de Pinet, Cuvée Prestige de l’Ormarine from the cooperative at Pinet

This coop works really well for its appellation, with a great range of Picpoul. Picpoul is not necessarily the world’s most exciting grape variety, but when vinified properly, it has some lovely salty notes, with a light herbal lift and good acidity. It’s just the thing for a New Year oyster. We actually had it as an apéro, and it went down very nicely.

Then we moved on to un coup de rouge, - 2007 Faugères, les Collines from Domaine Ollier-Taillefer. This is their entry level Faugères, but it is none the worse for that. This encapsulates the charm of Midi, with some lovely spicy fruit. We finished the bottle at lunch today – sitting outside on our sheltered terrace in almost warm sunshine – on 30th December. All seemed very right with the world.


Comments

Welcome home, Rosemary. We've missed you - and your blog. Can't wait to see what you find next.
AlanM said…
We stayed in a gite just round the corner from the co-op in Pinet, L'Ormarine. Their wines are good and we enjoyed them with the excellent oysters and seafood from the area.
On your recommendation we also visited Ollier Taillefer in Fos and loved the wines, indeed a Reserve is what is bringing in the New Year here in snowy Durham.
I really enjoy your blog and wish you a very happy new year.
Alan - Snap! We drank Ollier-Taillefer's 2007 Grande Reserve en magnum. I hope yours was as delicious as ours. And thank you for your encouraging comment.
AlanM said…
It was excellent thanks. Were staying in Magellas next summer and I'll be definitely popping back to Fos to stock up. The passion of the viticulteur was convincing and I've been spreading the word.
Any chance of a new book Rosemary?
BenN said…
Not only are Ollier-Taillefer range of wines delicious, the family has an excellent gite in the village of Fos, at the back of their salon de degustation. No pool but bikes provided, resonable cost and very peaceful. Ideal base for sampling wines from the seven villages in Faugeres appellation. Details on Ollier website.
Have much enjoyed your notes on Mas Amiel, Chateau Dornie etc.
Alan - When you are in Magalas next summer, do go and visit Domaine de Magellan, with Bruno Lafon, the brother of Dominique in Meursault.
AlanM said…
I will do Rosemary, I had it on my list. We liked the wines at nearby La Croix Belle last year and went to go to the restaurant in Magellas whose name I forget, the famous one but it was all meat, no good for me. I saw Magellan (memorable name after all) and read another recomendation after I came back. So will defintiely visit next year. I may pick your brain nearer the time if that's OK
Alan - do feel free to pick my brains nearer the time. And the last time we ate at O Bontemps - the replacement of the Boucherie - we had delicious fish. You just have to tell them that you don't eat meat and they respond accordingly.

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