Louise Hurren takes part in a “best of Languedoc” wine tasting and flags up the four wines that were tipped for the top

In June 2007 I was lucky enough to be invited to taste no less than 28 award-winning Languedoc wines in the space of a morning (and no, I didn’t have to think too long or hard before I accepted).

I was part of a jury of female journalists who get together every year in the Languedoc to taste some of the region’s most interesting vintages, pre-selected by 70 experts from over 300 samples supplied by 73 different caves coopératives from the Languedoc region (I’m giving you the numbers so you know we didn’t just sit down and open up any old bottle of plonk).

The event, known as Les Coups de Coeur des Femmes Journalistes, was founded in 1997, and is the brainchild of the Vignerons Coopérateurs du Languedoc-Roussillon.

Every year, the jury (a mixture of wine experts and enthusiastic amateurs like me) chooses its favourites (“les coups de coeur”) from over 50 award-winning wines, all of which have to be available to purchase from the various caves coopératives in question.

Naturally, it’s a “blind” tasting: the covers only come off the bottles at the very end, once the lips have been smacked, the votes have been cast and there is no going back.

Our tasting sheets asked us to focus on sight, smell and taste, and under each heading, we had to qualify what we had experienced with the appropriate adjectives (helpfully, there was a crib-sheet to hand with the standard French “dégustation” vocab for those who found that words failed them). Then you had to give each wine marks under each heading, and finally, a total score out of 20.

After a long morning’s work, and a great deal of swigging, swilling and spitting, we had found our winners – and happily, there was plenty of consensus around the table when it came to deciding which wines were worthy of a prize.

You can buy the four winning wines - listed below – direct from their respective caves coopératives, (three are in the Hérault, the fourth is in Pyrénées-Orientales), or from if you give them a ring, they’ll be able to tell you the name and location of the stockist nearest to you (some of the wines in question are sold via specialist wine shops in France and the UK, so even if you’re not living in or visiting the Languedoc, you might still be able to get your hands on them).

You don’t have to take my word for it, either: you’ll be welcome to do your own sipping and supping, if you prefer to taste before putting your hand in your pocket.

RED

Vin de Pays d’Oc Syrah 2006
Clochers et Terroirs
34230 Puilacher

Why we liked it

A deep, cherry-red robe, a fantastic nose of red fruits, a spicy youthfulness, a flavour that shouted “bonbons,” and a very velvety mouth-feel. All this, for only €2,75 euros a bottle if you buy direct from the cave. A total bargain. Call 04 67 96 72 36 to check opening hours.

VIN DOUX NATUREL (FORTIFIED WINE)

AOC VDN Rivesaltes ambré 2000 « Château Les Pins »
Les vignerons de Baixas Dom Brial
66390 BAIXAS

Why we liked it

A beautiful yellow-gold hue, and a nose full of jam, honey, caramel, apricot and quince. A well-balanced wine with a good, long-lasting finish – “perfect with foie gras aux figues, or vanilla ice-cream”, said one of the judges. Priced at €11,50, this is one to serve at around 12 degrees. Ring 04 68 64 22 37 to check availability before making a special trip!

ROSE

Vin de Pays d’Oc rosé 2006 - Les Treize Vents
Tours et Terroirs
10 avenue Marcellin Albert
34150 Gignac

Why we liked it

A delicate pale pink hue, very feminine and subtle, tinged with a hint of salmon.
Discrete, elegant notes of raspberry and cherry, with a slight floral note running underneath. Fresh and tasty in the mouth, with a good balance of acidity, perfect for summer picnics and barbecues, and at only €3,30 a bottle, it won’t break the bank.

Tours et Terroirs is based in Gignac, a small town in the heart of the Languedoc; the Gignac coop merged in 2005 with that of neighbouring Saint Andre de Sangonis to form Tours et Terroirs. Check out their website www.toursetterroirs.com for more information, or call 04 67 57 51 94. In summer, the wine shop is open Monday–Saturday from 9am – 12, 2.30pm – 7pm.

WHITE

Vin de Pays d’Oc blanc 2006 – Les Coteaux de Rieutort
34490 Murviel les Beziers

Why we liked it

Pale gold in colour, with a silvery, crystal-clear quality. A citric, Opal Fruit-like quality that makes your mouth water, with pink grapefruit in predominance, and a hint of something that I could only define as “mineral meets marine, on the corner of flint and seaweed“ – perhaps you get my drift…

Of all the wines we tasted, this was my own personal favourite. I’m well aware that at €3,60 a bottle, this makes me a cheap date, but the whole point of the exercise was to find wines that could be enjoyed by wine experts and Joe (or Josephine) Public alike, regardless of price, pretty labels or snob value.

I just hope Les Coteaux de Rieutort have made enough of this stuff to keep me happy: I’ve half a mind to call 04 67 37 87 51 and see if they can offer discounts for buying in bulk.