Sud De France Tasting 2024 — Independents

The 2024 Sud De France tasting in London

Southern France’s Occitanie is the UK’s favourite French wine region which, with justification, claims itself as one of the world’s most exciting areas, offering wines that combine incredible value with distinctive character.

This tasting offered the widest selection of Occitanie wines available in UK under one roof with local grape varieties, including Monarch, Loin de L’Oeil, Floreal and Negrette​​​ as well as terroir diversity (36 different appellations, including Picpoul de Pinet, Faugères, La Clape, Collioure, and Cahors) and a focus on sustainability with 40% of the wines certified organic or biodynamic.

Away from the so-called “classic” regions that command varying degrees of price premium, this tasting re-iterated the quality and value from the broad swathe of southern France, running from inland Atlantic South West across Roussillon and Languedoc to the Southern Rhone valley. The wines here all punched about their weight; characterful wines, often from lesser-known varieties that outperform on quality.

The sweet spot here was wines from independent wine merchants, priced in the mid-teens and upwards but not to the level of trophy pricing.

Whilst quality and value were always good, a few wines stood out as unusual, interesting or just in need of more appreciation:

• Rolle (aka Vermentino); often considered an Italian grape, it also does well here.
• Picpoul with a bit of age that showed this variety is not just a simple citrussy sipper.
• Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec; a complex dry wine from a traditionally sweet wine area.
• Tavel; a darker shade of rosé with real character and complexity.
• Excellent wines from regional stawarts Daniel Lambert, Calmel & Joseph, Katie Jones.

The wines:

Les Beaux Jours ‘Couchant’, Vignerons Propriétés Associés AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun 2023 (£15.95, Key Wine Company)

Roussanne/Marsanne/Viognier; 13.5%; rich and waxy, full and supple, saline and long with white fruits, mint and fennel. Good+.

Secrets d’Oc Vermentino, Gilbert & Gaillard IGP Pays d’Oc 2020 (£12.50, Classic Fine Foods)

100% Rolle; 13.5%; sleek, elegant and supple, long and saline with white stone fruits, orchard fruits and minty herbs. Good+ and Good Value.

Roc ’n’ Rolle, Château Coujan IGP Pays d’Hérault 2022 (£15.50, Wickhams Wines)

100% Rolle; 13%; quince, apple and pear, hazelnut, sweet spices and good savoury underpinnings. Good+.

La Marquise, Calmel & Joseph IGP Pays d’Oc 2021 (£19.00, Daniel Lambert Wines)

Roussanne, Grenache gris; 12.5%; savoury, sweet spices, almond, fennel and orchard fruit; full supple and waxy. Good+.

Blanc, Mas des Brousses IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert 2022 (£20.50, Stone, Vine & Sun)

Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Clairette, Rolle; 13.5%; complex and savoury, full and supple, waxy and saline with green herbs, orchard fruit, sweet spices and good underpinnings. Very Good.

Picpoul Selection “Patience”, Cave de Florensac AOP Picpoul de Pinet 2021 (£19.99, Wickhams Wines)

100% Piquepoul Blanc; 13%; citrus and white pepper, , full and saline, complex and broad, with sweet spices and good underpinnings. Good+.

Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec, Château Barrejat AOP Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh 2023 (£13.50, Stone, Vine & Sun)

Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng; 13.5%; yellow stone fruit, honeysuckle, baking spices; fresh, rich, waxy and saline. Good+.

Prima Donna, Domaine Maby AOP Tavel 2023 (£19.50, Wickhams Wines)

Grenache noir, Cinsault; rosé; 14%; savoury and long, good underpinnings, red berries, cherry and cranberry, textured with good structure. Good+.

Costières de Nimes, Dauvergne & Ranvier AOP Costières de Nîmes 2022 (£14.00, Daniel Lambert Wines)

Syrah, Grenache noir; 14%; plush, supple and full; bramble fruits, herbs and good savoury underpinnings; very fine tannins; harmonious. Good+.

Les Hauts de Lalande, Domaine Lalande IGP Cité de Carcassonne 2022 (£12.25, Hourlier Wines)

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot; 13%; full and supple, savoury, earthy with bramble fruits, spice and minty eucalyptus. Good+.

Cardinal Bonzi, Abbaye de Valmagne AOP Languedoc Grès de Montpellier 2020 (£31.50, Wickhams Wines)

Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache noir; 14%; complex spices, minty eucalyptus and stewed / baked berry fruit, very fine, well-integrated tannins. Good+.

Clos des Jean, Mas de Farjou AOP Pic-Saint-Loup 2019 (£20.50, Hourlier Wines)

Syrah, Grenache noir; 14.5%; dar fruits, complex toasty spices, gamey, supple and warming with baked fruits, eucalyptus and very fine, firm tannins. Good+.

Le Tigre, Château des Adouzes AOP Faugères 2020 (£12.41, Justerini & Brooks)

Carignan noir, Grenache noir, Syrah; 13%; dark fruit, complex spices, cool mint and fresh black cherries; fine firm tannins. Good+.

Fitou Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Jones AOP Fitou 2022 (£17.99, Vinceremos)

Carignan noir, Grenache noir, Syrah; 14%; drak fruit and perfume, long and savoury, supple tannins. Very Good.

Caramany “La Folie Douce”, Calmel & Joseph AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany 2022 (£18.50 Daniel Lambert Wines)

Carignan noir, Grenache noir, Syrah; 14.5%; baked dark fruit, vanilla spice, mint and florality; full and supple with rounded tannins. Good+.