After you have crossed the dramatic Millau bridge and the plateau of the Larzac, and you emerge from a tunnel at the Pas de l’Escalette, you almost imagine that you can see a silvery line in the far distance that is the Mediterranean. The temperature has risen by at least 3°C and the first vines of the Languedoc are at your feet. They are part of the Terrasses du Larzac, the most northerly and coolest vineyards of the Languedoc. If you think of the Languedoc as forming an amphitheatre around the Mediterranean, this is Upper Circle or Balcony of the theatre, that is furthest from the sea.
It is an area that has attracted enormous interest over the last 20 years. In my book, “The Wines of the South of France”, published in 2001, I gave it little more than a cursory mention, merely acknowledging its existence as a possible new addition to the pyramid of Languedoc appellations, for which the simple appellation Languedoc, which covers Roussillon as well as Languedoc, forms the base. Essentially a more distinctive name was needed for villages that had once been part of the smaller and now defunct appellation Coteaux du Languedoc. There were pioneering wine growers such as Olivier Jullien at Mas Jullien, and his father at Cal Demoura, Château de Jonquières and Mas Chimères, followed by the likes of Mas des Brousses and Domaine Montcalmès.
Denne historien er fra Spring 2023-utgaven av Sommelier India.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2023-utgaven av Sommelier India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Intimate and Welcoming
Reserve a table at AI Garamond in the centre of Turin for a taste of authentic Piedmonteset and Sicilian cuisine
Tribute to the Kerala Kitchen
Kappa Chakka Kandhari is a restaurant like no other. Chef Regi Mathew, the presiding genius, speaks to Kaveri Ponnapa about how the award-winning restaurant, specialising in the homecooking of Kerala, came into being
SWIRLING IN THE DIGITAL ERA - How social media is influencing wine culture
The ever-evolving world of wine is currently witnessing a significant shift towards social media. Devati Mallick steers us through the many ways one can navigate the digital landscape with a simple click, tap, or swipe
Bottling It - The times they are a-changing
Wine in glass bottles has been traditional for a very long time but now change is a-foot, says Carol Wright. The carbon foot print of the glass bottle is not planet friendly
BANDOL - The ruby in the Provence crown
If you thought Provence was only about rosés, you are wrong. Bandol, one of the more prestigious appellations of Provence, is renowned for its bold and structured red wines. Here's what Elizabeth Gabay MW has to say
A Splendid Septet of Wines
Raymond Blake tastes seven vintages of the Burgundy premier cru, Gevrey-Chambertin 'Aux Combottes', from Domaine Dujac, owned by the Seysses family
CYPRUS Dawn of a New Era
On a recent visit to Cyprus, Rosemary George MW is struck by the island's numerous indigenous grape varieties and high altitude vineyards
Madeira The world's longest living wine
Carol Wright on what makes Madeira the 'hottest' thing in wine
AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT ETNA
Altitude, fertile volcanic ash, and abundant sunlight create a unique environment for vineyards
Putting their best foot forward
Craig Wedge is bullish about the rising quality of Australian wines entering the Indian market