Haslemere Cellar - Wine from Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence & Corsica

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON , PROVENCE & CORSICA

White Wines

2004	Sauvignon Blanc Domaine Deshenrys, Vin de Pays d’Oc	*bottle*	£5.99
	*special case price*	*12x75cl*	£65.00
2004	Chardonnay La Begude, Domaine Begude, VdP d’Oc [B]	*bottle*	£6.50
	*special case price*	*12x75cl*	£72.00
	Begin the Begude, Johnny Begude etc. – I think we’ve had all the musical witticisms to accompany this wine but if you have any more please send them in ! This is great stuff – biodynamic unoaked Chardonnay from a cool area high in the foothills of the Pyrenees near Limoux made by English ex-pats James & Catherine Kinglake.
2001	Eurus Côteaux du Languedoc, Abbotts	*bottle*	£9.50
	An interesting mix of white Rhône grapes – Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc – with just a soupçon of new oak to add structure.

Rosé Wines

I keep being told that “Pink is the new black” so here are two new rosés to complement the delicious Saint-André de Figuière which we have stocked for many years now.

2004	Côtes de Provence Rosé, Domaine Saint-André de Figuière [O]	*bottle*	£8.99
	*special case price*	*6x75cl*	£52.00
	Our best selling rosé – elegant, flavoursome and a beautiful salmon pink colour. And organic to boot!
2004	Collioure Rosé, Mas Cornet	*bottle*	£8.99
	*special case price*	*6x75cl*	£52.00
	A beefier style of rosé – more of a food wine than the Provence above – great with charcuterie.
2004	Clos Reginu Rosé, Domaine Maestracci, Corse Calvi	*bottle*	£9.50
	*special case price*	*6x75cl*	£54.00
	Delicate, quite spicy, Corsican rosé from near Calvi – a very refreshing apéritif.

Red Wine Rosé Wine White Wine [O] – Organic [B] - Biodynamic

Red Wines

An eclectic mixture here varying from the traditional Barroubio Minervois and Gros Noré Bandol to the very modern Notus & Cyrcée. NB at the time of writing the Abbotts estate is in the process of being sold and we can’t promise continuity with their wines. If you are a longstanding fan may I suggest you stock up now?

2002	Merlot, Domaine Deshenrys, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue	bottle	£5.99
	*special case price*	*12x75cl*	£65.00
	With the 2003 vintage this will become Vin de Pays d’Oc – it will be the same highly reliable wine though!
2002	Faugères Les Hauts de Saint-Jean, Abbé de Sylva Plana	bottle	£8.50
	*special case price*	*12x75cl*	£92.00
	Made by Henri Bouchard of Domaine Deshenrys (see Merlot above), this is a very versatile soft, gently spicy red and is one of the house wines chez moi.
2003	Minervois, Domaine Barroubio	*bottle*	£7.99
	Attractive soft fruit. Very gluggable.
2000	Boreas Côteaux du Languedoc, Abbotts	*bottle*	£9.99
	*special case price*	*6x75cl*	£54.00
	Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Beginning to show soft attractive maturity.
2000	Cumulus Reserve Minervois, Abbotts	*bottle*	£9.99
	Old vine Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre aged in 2 nd year barriques
1998	Cumulo Nimbus Minervois, Abbotts	*bottle*	£14.99
	Old vine Syrah aged for 14 months in partly new oak barriques – beefier and more structured than the Cumulus Reserve.
1999	Notus Minervois, Abbotts (100% Syrah)	*bottle*	£25.00
	Single vineyard Syrah given 18 months ageing in new French oak barrels.
2003	Collioure, Mas Cornet	*bottle*	£9.50
	Splendid full-bodied, gutsy red from Collioure, close to the Spanish border on the Mediterranean coast. Evocative of the heat and smell of the garrigue.
2002	Cyrcée Collioure, Cave de l’Abbé Rous	*bottle*	£23.00
	Made by Dr Alain Raynaud of Ch. Quinault l’Enclos in Saint-Emilion (see Bordeaux) from grapes from a vineyard owned by the Cave de l’Abbé Rous. “This 15,000 bottle blend of 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre, 35% Grenache, and 15% Carignan reveals a complex bouquet of white flowers, blueberries, blackberries, melted licorice, and minerals. Full-bodied, with velvety tannin, excellent purity, and surprising elegance for a wine with 14.5% natural alcohol, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 10-12 years.” 90/100 Robert Parker. See below for Raynaud’s incredible Banyuls Helyos.
1999	Bandol, Domaine du Gros Noré	*bottle*	£19.00
	Traditional Bandol made mostly from Mourvèdre – licquorice, blueberry and soft mature leather flavours.Highly recommended.	*magnum*	£39.00
2001	Domaine de Trevallon, Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhône	*bottle*	£41.00
	We are delighted to be stocking Eloi Durrbach’s famous Provençal red.

Red Wine Rosé Wine White Wine [O] – Organic [B] - Biodynamic

Sweet Wines – Muscat & Banyuls Vins Doux Naturels

The Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois from Domaine Barroubio is a revelation when compared to offerings from Beaumes de Venise and Rivesaltes. It has great richness, concentration and balance.

The Banyuls appellation is situated a few miles north of the Spanish border on the Mediterranean coast and coincides with the geographical area for Collioure red and rosé table wines [see above]. The wines are made from Grenache grapes grown on hot, steep, terraced vineyards. The fermentation process is stopped by adding grape spirit, similar to Port making, to give a Vin Doux Naturel with a high level of residual sugar and an alcohol level of about 16%.

While the more traditional styles such as Banyuls Grand Cru [long cask ageing] are still made, the emphasis today is on Rimage wines which are bottled younger to preserve fruit character. The combination of fruit, sweetness and high alcohol mean that Banyuls is one of the few wines that is capable of standing up to chocolate.

Banyuls Grand Cru wines need up to ten years to develop and may last for forty or more, eventually evolving flavours like nuts, dried fruit and toffee. Banyuls Grand Cru is best decanted well in advance and is good with blue cheeses, dried fruit and nuts. Banyuls Blanc is medium-sweet to sweet and is best served as an apéritif.

NV	Muscat de St-Jean de Minervois Cuvée Bleu, Domaine Barroubio	*50cl*	£11.25
	Vibrant, fresh, peachy sweet fruit. Serve well chilled with fruit tarts and soft cheeses.

2002	Banyuls Rimage, Mas Cornet	*bottle*	£12.95
	Big, ripe, sweet brambly fruit with overtones of licquorice. Can cope with chocolate puddings. Also great for poaching pears!
2002	Banyuls Helyos, Cave de l’Abbé Rous	*bottle*	£28.00
	“…this 18,000 bottle cuvée was produced from 25-60-year old Grenache vines. Lofty alcohol and unobtrusive residual sweetness, but none of the Amarone-like, late harvest character found in many Banyuls...This dense ruby/purple-colored 2002 boasts an extraordinary perfume of creosote/charcoal, blackberries, blueberries, fennel, and licorice. Extremely full-bodied with rich, concentrated fruit, remarkable freshness, elegance, and finesse, and a finish that lasts for more than 60 seconds, this vibrant offering reveals neither heaviness nor oxidation.” 95/100 Robert Parker
1994	Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Christian Reynal Cave de l’Abbé Rous	*bottle*	£25.00
	“Just a stone’s throw away from the beach, the remarkably well arranged Cave de l’Abbé Rous houses old foudres which make great wines – including this Cuvée Christian Reynal – of impressively regular, high quality. Mahogany, tawny and sienna are the colours given to it by time. What follows is a veritable festival of flavours – prunes in brandy, burnt notes of coffee and mocha herald in a mid-palate of greengage and prune which go hand in hand with velvety tannins right through to a toasty finish bordering on rancio. Superb! A wine that will match anything from fried foie gras to dark chocolate, orange cake and coffee.” *** Coup de Coeur – Guide Hachette

Red Wine Rosé Wine White Wine [O] – Organic [B] - Biodynamic