News from domaine la croix chaptal, great Languedoc wine.

Languedoc is located in the south of France adjacent to the Mediterranean sea. Wine has been produced in the region for two and a half millennia - starting with the Greeks, then the Phoenicians and Romans. In fact, the Roman historian Titus Livius was lauding "wines of light" from Limoux two thousand years ago. And sparkling wines from Limoux were the first wines we had tasting from the region. Based on the Mauzac grape, these are some of the best sparklers we have ever tasted. Getting back to Languedoc, the region is divided into many AOCs, with almost a dozen represented on the Ambassador Tour. And as expected, the wines differ by AOC because of terrior and the grapes planted. Besides some indigenous grapes, the most popular grape varieties are Rhone varieties: Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Grenache, and Mourvedre for reds and Rousanne, Grenache Blamc, Marsanne, and Muscat for whites. Not too surpising since Languedoc and Rhone border each other."

For the second year in a row, Domaine La Croix Chaptal is selected as one of the top 30 Languedoc Wines on the USA market thanks to its cuvée "Les Terrasses 2007" - AOC Terrasses du Larzac - Languedoc !!!

The selection tasting of the Languedoc Wine Ambassadors Tour was held in New York on January 10th and 11th, 2011 with a jury consisting in 3 American wine specialists :

Claire Defoe, manager of Sherry-Lehmann, one of the most important wine retailers in New York . She was quoted by the New York Times for her analyses of consumer trends .
Robert Whitley, wine journalist , writes in the weekly Wine Talk, published nationally. He is also the editor of Wine review online and write once a month in the column Vine talk of Reuters.
Lora Zarubin is the chief editor of the Wne & Gastronomy of the Los Angeles Times. She has also written cook books and opened a restaurant in New York in 1992.

And good news to start the New Year :
Tasting notes from Peter K Wong - Best sommelier from Hong Kong - January 2010 : Cuvée Charles 2005 :

"Aromas of grilled pepper, ripe tannins, a silky well-structured and very balanced wine. The best I have tasted from the South of France. It has tinges od the Lafite Rotschild style".

Good news to end the year :
La Gazette de Montpellier 24/12/2009 : Dominique Laporte, the best sommelier in France, has selected la Croix Chaptal as one of the 50 best wines in Languedoc-Roussillon :
Domaine La Croix Chaptal
Here we are again on the Aniane terroir. Rounded stones and pebbles dominate on a poor and deep clayey limestone soil which is naturally well drained and windswept by the mistral and tramontane.
The wines from La Croix Chaptal ( interesting name for a wine, don’t you think ?) are listed in all the great guides and praised by wine critics ; indeed they deserve this praise. If I were you, I would try the cuvée “ Les Origines “ ( Coteaux du Languedoc) which, according to the vintage, is based upon one of the three varieties : Carignan, Grenache, or Syrah.
Domaine La Croix Chaptal Cambous 34725 St André de Sangonis 04 67 16 09 36. www.lacroixchaptal.com

An estate spreading over 25 hectares of vineyards and 10 hectares of woods .
This Coteaux-du-Languedoc cuvée Les Origines Déodat de Séverat 2006 is a success with its low-yielding Syrah blended with a tinge of Grenache and Carignan. Every year, one or several plots are more thoroughly prepared for producing low yields of 17 to 25 hl/ha. According to the vintage and the results obtained, one or several exceptional cuvées are made from one of the three varieties as its/ their main ingredient : Carignan, Grenache or Syrah. Each of the 3 varieties in this trilogy “ The Origins” is related to a character or an event that marked the beginning of the history of the estate.
This wine is very good in the mouth , with tinges of blackcurrant and pepper ; it is concentrated both in colour and texture with a pleasant spicy final touch which foretells an excellent evolution (18 €).

Great Coteaux-du-Languedoc cuvée Les Origines Seigneurie de Cambous 2005 issued from very low-yielding Carignan combined with a touch of Grenache and Syrah. This wine is really well made, colored and full-bodied, dense, with both mature and powerful tannins. It combines charm and structure with aromas of red fruits, spices, and touches of undergrowth.

Along with the above wine, the Coteaux-du-Languedoc Les Sigillées Blanc 2008 (7€) is very pleasant as is the Clairette-du-Languedoc Vieilles Vignes 2007 ( White Clairette, aged in new oak barrels for 30% of it and in tanks on lees for 70%), a smooth as well as lively wine (8€).

The Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac cuvée Charles 2006
(approximately one third of the 3 varieties Grenache, Syrah and Carignan on soils made of rounded stones and pebbles with some red clay ; hand picked harvest with 30 to 40 days of vatting for each variety and 23 months of ageing (at least half of it in barrels), the wine is unfiltered) has aromas of cooked red fruits and a nuance of truffle and humus in the nose, it is four-square and long on the palate. (12 €)

The Coteaux-du-Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac red 2006 ( traditional vinification with a short period in barrels) is in its youth an ideal accompaniement to grilled meat (8€).

Charming Coteaux-du-Languedoc Les Sigillées rosé 2008, is fresh, fruity, subtle and very aromatic – No hesitation whatsoever-

A monk from Gellone Abbey created the vineyard of the estate of Cambous in the early Xth century .
In 1999, Charles PACAUD revived this “ terroir” of rounded stones on the “Terrasses du Larzac”. He offers here a “cuvée” whose main variety is Syrah and whose mineral nose is moderated by overtones of ripe fruits and pepper. Its ample and fresh mouth is structured by tannins that will require a year or two to melt.
Its persistent finish reveals strength and richness.

Red : Les Origines - Déodat de Séverat 2006
Mineral and smoky nose with overtones of liquorice and candied black fruit . The mouth is full-bodied, really fruity with a refined texture and round tannins. A long and aromatic finish.17,50 €

Red : Cuvée Charles 2006
In the nose, a bouquet of leather, “garrigue” plants and peppery black fruits. The mouth shows supple body and is aromatic with spicy fruit and well-refined tannins. 11,50€

Dry white : Clairette du Languedoc 2007
A roasted and smoky nose with overtones of mature white fruit and baked apples. The mouth is round with tinges of caramel and a spicy finish.
A white wine for gastronomy. 8 €

Clairette du Languedoc A.O.C - Clairette Blanche 2007 : 81 out of 100
A bright pale gold colour . an intense woody and roasted nose with a citrus background.
The mouth is full, rich, dominated by the wood. The fruit is still in the background. This wine still has to assimilate its ageing process.
Approximate price : 8 €
Where to find it : at the estate cellar- in wine shops- in restaurants.

Coteaux du Languedoc - Terrasses du Larzac A.O.C
- Les Origines- Déodat de Séverat 2006 : 86 out of 100
A concentrated colour with highlights connoting its youth . A fine woody nose with overtones of vanilla, blackcurrant and black cherry.
In the mouth, its texture is supple, silky and smooth, its tannins fine ans its vanilla woody taste combines with the fruits. A refined Languedoc.
Approximate price : 18 €
Where to find it : at the estate cellar- in wine shops- in restaurants.

- Cuvée Charles 2006 : 84 out of 100
A deep colour with highlights connoting its youth. A ripe nose with overtones of spices, stewed fruits and fruits in brandy.
In the mouth, it is smooth, supple and with a distinctive fruitiness –A well- balanced and fruity Languedoc. It is ideal to accompany a couscous.
Approximate price : 12 €
Where to find it : at the estate cellar- in wine shops- in restaurants.

- Les Terrasses 2006 : 83 out of 100
A deep colour with highlights of garnet. A blooming nose evoking undergrowth, leather and sugared fruits. The mouth confirms this evolved aromatic overall impression. It is on the whole straightforward and rounded. Ideal with small game.
Approximate price : 8 €
Where to find it : at the estate cellar- in wine shops- in restaurants.

Enjoy the Languedoc - it won't be here forever, from Andrew Jefford : Decanter January 2009 (pg 21)
"...Geologically, the Languedoc hills are a synopsis of everything which makes France so propitious for winegrowing... Surely in any other country, those Languedoc hills would have been a star region; their misfortune was to find themselves sharing a nation with Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire and the Rhône. And too far from Paris.
But where is the best spot in the Languedoc ? My theory is that Terrasses du Larzac is the greatest spot in the Languedoc... Stone and slopes alone don't make for great wine - as much of Provence proves - but when skilled winegrowers grapple intelligently and sensitively with nature here, the results seem to me to have the same aromatic, textural potential as the best of the Rhône..."

Wine Spectator of January 2009 : SAVVY SHOPPER
Strategies to help you choose the best wines in 2009 - TOP VALUES :
Domaine La Croix Chaptal "Cuvée Charles" 2005 = 90/100 : $20
Domaine La Croix Chaptal "Les Terrasses" 2005 = 88/100 : $15

Domaine La Croix Chaptal - Terrasses du Larzac - Cuvée Charles 2005 : 15,33/20
"Robust black-cherry nose. Ripe and oaky. Rich, supple, juicy with robust tannins. Not a lot of character but a good mouthful. From 2008"

BETTANE ET DESSEAUVE 2009 : 2 stars - pg 780
After an earlier career in the wine business for a big company, Charles Pacaud has built his Domaine to produce very specific, greatly charming wines that definitely get off the beaten track. The Rosé wine, close to a “Clairet”, does not yield to fashion, it combines charm with a very resilient character. As regards red wines, the production is at a high quality standard.
Anyway, you will have understood that the wines from this Domaine deserve to be chosen for their incredible capacity for fitting dishes.

Coteaux du Languedoc 2006 Rosé
( ageing 2008 to 2010) 6,90€ 14/20
This rosé is full of character and will go well with spicy dishes from North Africa but it is not suited to « aperitf ».

Coteaux du Languedoc Cuvée Charles 2005
Red ( ageing 2008 to 2012) 12 € 16/20
The structure is dense, salty with light tannins.
This full-bodied wine with powerful flavours will go along perfectly with a grilled beef rib.

Coteaux du Languedoc Seigneurie de Cambous 2005
Red ( ageing 2008 to 2010) 18€ 15,5/20
Fine tannins indeed within a silky structure with a level of acidity that will allow remarkable associations with a North American type of cooking.

Table wine Vendanges du 17 octobreNaturally Sweet White
(ageing 2008 to 2010) 12,50 € 15,5/20
This table wine is made from botrytised grapes. It is elegant in the nose, with a powerful body and intense sugar content.

HACHETTE WINE GUIDE 2009 : 1 star - pg 757
Domaine La Croix Chaptal Terrasses du Larzac Cuvée Charles 2005 *
The label shaped like a keystone is a reference to the stones of the great cellar of the Domaine.
By combining Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan equally, this cuvée is highly representative of the Terrasses du Larzac thanks to its aromas of fruits, pepper and toast – After giving a first impression of smoothness, the mouth appears firm, structured by well-coated tannins that are already mature . Serve with a beef rib or a cassoulet from Castelnaudary.

DUSSERT GERBER 2009: 1er Grand Cru Classé - pg 474
An estate spreading over 25 ha of vineyards and 10 ha of woods.

Fine Coteaux du Languedoc Cuvée les Origines Seigneurie de Cambous 2005 made from a very low – yielding Carignan combined with a touch of Grenache and Syrah, a very well matured wine that is dense, coloured and full-bodied with both ripe and powerful tannins, it combines charm and structure with aromas of red fruits and spices and hints of undergrowth.

By its side, the Clairette du Languedoc Vieilles Vignes 2006 ( Clairette blanche, maturing in new oak barrels for 28% and in tanks on lees for 72% ) is a smooth as well as vigorous wine (8€).

The Cuvée Charles Terrasses du Larzac 2005 (approximately one third of the 3 varieties Grenache, Syrah and Carignan on soils made of rounded stones and gravels with some red clay, hand-picked grapes left in tanks for 30 to 40 days for each variety, and 23 months of maturing with at least half of the time in oak barrels, the wine is unfiltered ) has aromas of cooked red fruits, of truffle and humus ; it is well-structured with a lengthy final touch in the mouth. (12 €).

The Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac 2005 ( traditional vinification with a short stay in barrels) is ideal in its youth for accompanying grilled meat (8 €).

Charming Coteaux du Languedoc Les Sigillées Rosé 2007 fresh, fruity and subtle, a wine full of aromas indeed (7€).

We have also loved this astonishing Naturally Sweet White wine, mainly made from Roussanne ; it is smooth and generous (12,50€).

Therefore, have no hesitations.

The Savvy Shopper : Languedoc

By Bruce Sanderson
From Wine Spectator magazine, July 31, 2008 issue

The Coteaux du Languedoc Cuvée Charles 2005 (90, $20) from Domaine La Croix Chaptal is firm and powerful, oozing with dark cherry and dried herb notes flanked by mocha and spice.

La Revue du Vin de France : Millésime 2007 (Vintage) - pg 180
Domaine La Croix Chaptal Clairette du Languedoc - Clairette Blanche : 17,5/20
"Rare cuvée made from 100% Clairette : full-bodied and elegant structure, handsome, straightforward and ripe texture, full of freshness, lengthy in the mouth with a spicy final touch, caraway and fennel"

« LA CROIX CHAPTAL , CHAPEAU BAS ! " = “LA CROIX CHAPTAL , WELL DONE !

"Charles-Walter Pacaud, who was born in Cognac, discovered the Languedoc area during his course of study at the Engineer School of Agronomics in Montpellier. He then roved about the world of wine from England to Listel, worked in Napa Valley and Provence before settling in the hamlet of Cambous in 1999. He little by little decided he could completely place his confidence in this superb terroir by working on the soil, falling in love with carignan and interfering in vinifications in the slightest possible way. That explains why the two cuvees that were presented to our jury , are inevitably anchored in the terroir. They both won our unanimous support and place this 18-hectare estate among the best in the appellation.

The cuvee Les Terrasses 2005 (17 out of 20; 7.70€), made of grenache and carignan with a touch of syrah is a full-bodied, rich and noble wine. That is true for the nose which is intense, complex, ripe, blending aromas of candied fruit (cherry, raspberry), “garrigue”, dried fig and nutmeg. The mouth is in keeping with the above: mellow, well-defined, fresh with mineral touches at the end.

We also find the same terroir character in the cuvée Les Origines – Seigneurie de Cambous, AOC Terrasses du Larzac 2005 (18 out of 20 ;18€), all in praise of the carignan variety , with its bewitching nose blending aromas of earth, redcurrant, tobacco, undergrowth and soft spices. The full-bodied, tasty, silky texture in the mouth is outstandingly harmonious and lends itself to many different gourmet combinations”.

Our domaine la Croix Chaptal confirms its presence in this guide for the 7^thyear in a row.

Terrasses du Larzac Cuvee Charles 2004: one star. In 1999, Charles Pacaud took over this very old vineyard created in the X th century by the Benedictine monks of Gellone Abbaye. On this terroir, equal shares of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan have produced a wine tinged with a slightly wild taste completed by aromas of toast and garrigue. Firm tannins support this wine in its development and also guarantee that it will favourably evolve over two to three years. To be drunk with a bull stew.

After working as a business manager for a famous wine company, Charles Pacaud has been building his domaine in order to produce very specific, greatly charming wines that are decidedly meant to wander off the beaten track. The production of white is limited but the Clairette is so pure that it hardly has any equivalent in France. The rosé adopts a vinous style close to a claret and does not give way to fashion. It combines charm with a strong character.

The red wines are quite good. To put it in a nutshell, you must have understood that the wines from this Domaine deserve to be tasted for their incredible adaptation to gastronomy.

The Clairette may no longer be a very fashionable variety because of its being prone to oxidation.

But try it with your meal when it reaches that level of purity and it will surely show you how good it is at enhancing the most refined gastronomy!!

Hints of mint and rosemary in a well-structured wine with a remarkable aromatic charm. Its tannins are smooth and steadily present.

This is a powerful rosé which has not given way to softness as it is really straightforward and clear-cut as far as its aromas are concerned. It is cut out for gastronomy in the same way as the Clairette.

A pleasant dense and refined texture with very round tannins. The freshness of this greatly charming cuvee is indeed invigorating.
“Happiness immediately” more than 500 delicious and affordable wines to be tasted without waiting!

A 25- hectare vineyard where you find this côteaux du Languedoc Cuvée Charles Terrases du Larzac 2004( 36% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 32 % Carignan on soils made of rounded stones, gravels and some red clay) the grapes are hand-picked then allowed to ferment and rest in tanks for 30 to 40 days for each variety before ageing for 23 months ( half this time in barrels), the wine is unfiltered.

It is still very young, very firm, with hints of cooked red fruit, truffles and humus in the nose. It is well-structured and has a lasting final taste. (11.70 €). The Clairette du Languedoc “Vieilles Vignes 2005 (Clairette blanche, 25% matured in new oak and 75 % in tanks on lees) is full of aromas and both mellow and vigorous (7.50 €).

The Cuvée les Origines, Seigneurie de Cambous, made from low-yielding Carignan combined to a note of Grenache and Syrah, is a dense, very well matured wine with aromas of spices and candied fruit as well as ripe and powerful tannins;it is firm, coloured, fleshy and will age well ( 18 €). Do not hesitate either.

A golden colour. A superb nose with very ripe fruit (apricot, grape) on a slightly smoky backdrop. A fine roundness in the mouth; a full; fresh and aromatic wine.

The second best mark in Côteaux du Languedoc (vintages and terroirs combined)

Red cherry colour. A superb nose with very ripe fruit (cherry, morello cherry). The mouth is crunchy, fruity, fresh, framed by well-integrated tannins. Nose and mouth combine in a long, harmonious and somewhat mineral final touch.

- the 2007 Hubert guide, page 292, with 4 glasses for each of these 2 wines:

• “Cuvée Charles 2004: a peppery nose with tinges of leather and toast. In the mouth, it is dense and the tannins can still be perceived with a very spicy final note.”

• “Clairette 2005: a smoky nose with tinges of ripe fruit and oriental spices; the mouth is in the same vein, with great notes of dried fruit.”

The Domaine is also praised in Michel Smith’s book page 171, in the column ”evolving Grands Crus: the promising ones and the forgotten ones…”

“Here is an actually soaring Domaine from which we are expecting significant progress before we can speak of great wines. In 2000, the Cuvée Charles is impressive through its tannins, length in the mouth and its tinges of “garrigue”. As for a white wine, there is also the Clairettte du Languedoc, one of the oldest varieties and one of the earliest appellations in the area.”

The Seigneurie de Cambous 2004 is also mentioned in the Républicain Lorrain :

“In the nose, this wine sends out its aromas of candied small red fruit with a few tinges of spices and garrigue. The mouth is well-structured, smooth and full with fine tannins. A wine that should still be kept.”

A harvest of articles on our Rosé Coteaux du Languedoc 2006 and 2005 in this month of July!

- in the July issue of La Revue du Vin de France it is awarded a mark of 16 out of 20 and named “great wine”: “a fine Rosé, brightly-coloured, fresh and sprightly! Strong character.”

- a very praising article in “ la Revue Nationale de la Chasse ( the National magazine for hunting) :

“In the stone cellar of Domaine la Croix Chaptal built not far from the vineyard in 1875, the game from a great hunting party could well be kept fresh for a few days.

Charles Pacaud merely chooses to let his Rosé age a little longer than that of his colleagues. Thus it is this extra time which gives his wines the brightly-coloured robe which reminds us of claret.

Its nose is leaning towards wood and spices on a background of red fruit. It is full-bodied and fleshy as well as very smooth and fresh. Goes well with a game couscous.”

“Its elegant and rich fruit recalls that of a red wine but its freshness in the mouth is indeed that of a rosé. It is really delicious along with a ratatouille, with or without meat.”

“An astonishing Coteaux du Languedoc 2005 whose slightly dark robe is rather far from the usual concept of a rosé.

Nevertheless, in the mouth it is fleshy and can go well with a spicy meal ( and above all with North African cuisine).”

Côteaux du Languedoc rosé 2005 (Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, ageing on lees) intense colour, candied morello cherry in the nose, spicy, full-bodied with harmonious and balanced tannins (6,90 €).

Clairette du Languedoc Vieilles Vignes 2004 (Clairette blanche, traditional vinification on lees. 25 % in new oak and 75 % on lees in tanks) is both mellow and vigorous (7,50 €).

Côteaux du Languedoc Red Cuvée Charles Terrasses du Larzac 2003 (38 % Syrah, 37 % Carignan and 25 % Grenache, aged for 22 months, unfiltered), powerful, intense colour, flavoursome tannins, full of aromas (blackberry, blackcurrant, spices...), a promising wine (11,50 €).

Les Origines Déodat de Séverat 2004 (Red). This cuvée is intense and complex (18 €). Do not hesitate.

Hachette guide 2007 : Seigneurie de Cambous Les Origines (Red) 2004 obtains one star (p 745).

Charles-Walter Pacaud tends to his vineyard and his wines as delicately and thoroughly as the Benedictine monks who preceded him on this estate in the X^th century. In this wine, subtlety rivals with strength. From the garnet colour tinged with dark purple, one can guess at the complex aromas: toast, spices, dried fruit and a gentle hint of vanilla. Its velvety touch on the palate combined with powerful tannins will allow this wine to accompany a hare in chocolate sauce.

82 out of 100 for Clairette Vieilles Vignes 2004 (p 308). Light yellow colour. A very expressive nose combining flowery and citrus fruit (grapefruit) hints. Fat and full-bodied in the mouth. A very smooth, rather long-lasting style. To be appreciated with cooked fish. Approximate price: 7,50 €.

· Our Cuvée Charles 2003 and Clairette du Languedoc 2004 are pushed to the front on page 309 in the 2006 Guide Hubert :

Red Cuvée Charles 2003 : 4 glasses out of 5. Licorice combined with stewed red fruit and a touch of leather in the nose. In the mouth, this wine displays wild notes, a smooth structure, a spicy and peppery final touch.

Dry white Clairette du Languedoc 2004 : 4 glasses out of 5. A ripe nose with hints of honey, dried fruit and oven-baked apple. The mouth is round and toasted, fruity and mature.

· Out Déodat de Séverat 2004 is praised in Terre De Vin n°30, p 18:

“Charles Pacaud’s estate goes a step further with “Les Origines”, a new ambitious range of three “cuvées”, each one with one of the three following varieties : Carignan, Grenache or Syrah as its main basis. This Coteaux du Languedoc 2004 (17,50 €) pays tribute to Déodat de Séverat, a monk from Gellone Abbey who created the vineyard of the estate of Cambous in the early X^th century. In this wine, the Syrah variety prevails supported by a touch of Grenache and Carignan. Its nose is toasted and full of ripe wild black berries and elderberry. In the mouth, touches of blackberry jam, of prune, of thyme and ash prevail. This is a powerful, fleshy, concentrated wine but it remains fresh and full-bodied with a long-lasting mint-flavoured final touch.”

Last Press Release from "Wine Reviews & Rant" - Australia : 92 points to La Croix Chaptal - Seigneurie de Cambous 2001

"The vineyard is mainly old vines planted near Cambous about 45 minutes west of Montpellier. It is mainly Carignan with a bit of Grenache and Syrah. The nose was still closed, but had a bit of cinnamon spice and licorice. The same tones were in the wine along with an almost thick structure of fine tannins. No fruit sweetness, but still a bit dark red fruits and spicy overtones. The wine was made to "express the unique terroir of Cambous as it must have been in the 10th century when owned by the monks of Gellone Abbey". This is one of the best Languedoc wines I have tasted."

Tasting scores : 90-100 = very fine, extraordinary, 80-89 = very good, 70-79 = solid, 60-69 = faults are not obvious.

WineBizNews - 2011 - August, 5th

Vins du Languedoc: Great Tastes, Fabulous Values

WineWisdom Sally Easton MW

Languedoc Grands Crus – in the making Published by Sally on May 10, 2011

My top 30 tasting notes, London, April 2011

Domaine La Croix Chaptal, Cuvée Charles 2007, Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac
30% grenache, 40% carignan, 30% syrah
UK importer: Aldeby Wines
Smoked meats, biltong and barbecued steaks. Big, hulking meatiness, and no less interesting for that. Balanced, and with smoked dark berry fruits there too."

The Savvy Shopper : Languedoc

By Bruce Sanderson
From Wine Spectator magazine, July 31, 2008 issue