France Beyond Rhône - Published in October 2012

Additional reviews from Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Southwest France

October 2012 Featured Collections

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Mas del Périé 2009 La Pièce Malbec (Cahors)

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Price $85

The top cuvée from Mas del Périé, this is a concentrated wine, with new wood and black fruit notes. It’s packed with intense tannins, spice from the wood aging and a great depth of flavor. This is an impressive wine that will need to age for at least 5–6 years. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

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Jean-Luc Baldès 2009 Clos Triguedina The New Black Wine Malbec (Cahors)

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Price $50

Made from grape must that is heated before fermentation, this is powerful and concentrated, with a rich and very dense character. Prune, dried fruit and fresh plum notes combine with an intense background of acidity. Age for at least five years. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

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Prieuré St. Jean de Bébian 2008 Red (Coteaux du Languedoc)

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Price $15

Open and primal on nose, this has notes of game, roasted meat, lead pencil, green bell pepper and blackberry. It offers succulent fruit on the midpalate, accompanied by generous viscosity and oak. The wine sits broadly across the palate with significant heft, chewy tannins and moderate acidity. The harmony of flavors and structure lingers onto the lengthy finish. — W.E. (10/1/2012)

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Mas del Périé 2009 Les Acacias Malbec (Cahors)

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Price $40

Hugely concentrated, powerful and ageworthy, this has mint and new wood aromas. It has rich damson and blackberry fruits that push through the mineral texture and dark tannins, filling the mouth with its exuberant ripeness. Age for four years. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

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Vignobles Sarrail 2011 Domaine L’Estagnère Red (Vin de Pays Cité de Carcassonne)

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Aromas of mulberry, boysenberry, underbrush and dried lavendar lead to notes of black currant, dried herb and crushed granite on the palate. It possesses a smooth mouthfeel with succulent glycerol, balancing acidity and lightly grainy tannins. Moderate in length, with savory and mineral qualities lingering, this will evolve over the next 2–3 years and may hold longer. — W.E. (10/1/2012)

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Lionel Osmin & Cie 2009 Mon Adour Tannat (Madiran)

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Price $17

The wine’s name comes from the Adour River that flows through the Madiran region. This is dark colored, powerful and spicy, with weight and richness that should allow this to age for at least four years. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

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Mas del Périé 2010 La Roque Malbec (Cahors)

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Price $25

Dense and almost black in color, this is concentrated, with intense tannins and black plum fruit. It bursts with the rich fruit and acidity, finishing on a smoky, juicy note. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

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Jean-Luc Baldès 2009 Clos Triguedina Meritage (Cahors)

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Price $23

This is beautifully structured, packed with black fruits, ripe tannins and balanced acidity. It’s still young, showing the black fruit side of Malbec, but the tannins are already integrating well into the structure. Age for 4–5 years. — R.V. (10/1/2012)

2010 Buehler Estate

A pretty, polished and tasty wine for drinking now. Made from 100%…

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