Perth Area Wine Tasters

Tuesday 17th April 2012

Richard Bouglet
from
l'Art du Vin

presented the following wines

Picpoul de Pinet Domaine des Lauriers 2010
Fresh and dry as expected but showing delicious ripe peach and apricot flavours, lovely citrus finish with hints of bitter almonds.

Minervois Blanc, Les Costes, Domaine Cros 2011
This fabulous white is made from a carefully select mix of five grape varieties - Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, Muscat and Grenache Gris. It has an enticing floral nose with good concentration, stone fruit flavours and an underlying minerality, which finishes with a hint of lemon zest.

Château La Voulte-Gasparets Cuvée Reservée, 2009
Some people regard La Voulte Gasparets as the best Corbières to be found. The wines are Carignan dominated with some Grenache, Mouvedre and a little bit of Syrah from very low yields old vines. Carbonic maceration is usually used for the ferment, and ageing takes place in a mixture of old and new Merrain oak. They are very elegant but modern Corbières.

Clos Fantine, Faugères, 2009
A dark garnet in colour. The nose suggests dark spiced fruits with bags of smokiness and earth. On the palate, the red and black fruit flavours are layered and the texture supple and smooth leading to a lingering finish with a mineral streak.

Domaine Canet-Valette - Une et Mille Nuits 2008
Saint Chinian
A light garnet colour, with an almost orange meniscus.
On the nose chacuterie with savory herbs (rosemary and sage) masks the sweet fruit which tends towards the over ripe.
The palate is now soft, with the garrique herbs dominant over the fruit, the tannins have softened but are still present leaving a warm and welcoming mouthfeel.
The finish is still fresh and balanced by the acidity which persists.

Mas Amiel Vintage Rouge 2009
Luxuriously rich and sweet, with masses of red fruit on the nose. It has a curiously burnt element on the palate, and is very long and concentrated, with a lovely cherry finish. Gentle tannins help to bring the sweetness into check.