Wine Reviews: 2011 Clos Fantine Faugeres Languedoc, France
Languedoc holds a special place in my heart because so many of my wine epiphanies have happened while drinking wines from the Languedoc. Opening this wine brought back memories of all the Languedoc wines we drank when we lived on the east coast. Every now and then one arrives here at Enobytes that makes me go “Damn Daddy! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Oh my god, finally a rip-roaring original in a sea of mediocrity.
The schistose vineyards (similar to those of the Douro) contribute to the struggle the roots of these vines must endure to build the complex, concentrated flavors in the grapes that are delivered in this full-bodied wine. A blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mouvedre and Syrah organically grown grapes fermented in concrete vats. At first the nose is hit with a solid jolt of earthiness, olives, dried stone fruits and a faint aroma of band-aid and mercurochrome like it came from a childhood memory leaving just a whisper of recognition.
In the mouth the wine has a bold but refined presence with meaty, fruity, black olive tapenade flavors all balancing like a troop on a tightrope. If you enjoy old school traditional Languedoc flavors in an organic bottling, do yourself a favor and put a case of this in your collection. You will be glad you did especially if you can hang onto it for a couple of years.
Rating: Excellent (93) | $20 | 14.0% ABV
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