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Two
acknowledgements for our two most representative wines :
The Savvy Shopper:
Languedoc
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.
Terre de vins
mars-avril-mai 2008 n°38
« 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”.
PRESS REVIEW
A few new
articles from the 2008 wine guides
The
2008 Hachette wine guide:
Our
domaine la Croix Chaptal confirms its presence in this guide for the 7th
year 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.
Bettane
and Desseauve 2008 wine guide:
Superb
first mention in this guide with 4 wines listed from the outset
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.
Clairette
du Languedoc 2005 :
White : 2007 to 2010 7.50 €
15.5/20 
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!!
Côteaux
du Languedoc 2005 :
red : 2007 to 2010 6.60 €
15/20
Hints of mint and rosemary in a
well-structured wine with a remarkable aromatic charm. Its tannins are smooth
and steadily present.
Côteaux
du Languedoc 2005 :
rosé : 2007 to 2008 6.60 €
15/20
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.
Côteaux
du Languedoc « Cuvée Charles 2004 :
red : 2007 to 2010 11 €
15.5/20
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!
The Dusssert-Gerber
2008 wine guide:
confirms
our status as “ 1 er grand cru classé”
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.
The Gilbert and
Gaillard 2008 wine guide:
Vieilles
Vignes 2005 :
Price 7.50 € 85/100
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 final
touch is directed towards a fine tinge of ripe grapes.
Cuvée
Charles 2004 :
Price 11.50 € 89/100
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.
Press review
July 2007.
A wealth of
articles over this first semester
(non-exhaustive list):
Clairette du
Languedoc 2005 and Cuvée Charles 2004 are praised again in :
- 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.”
- the Rosé
Coteaux du Languedoc 2005 is again praised in the July issue of
le Chasseur Français
( the French Hunter)
“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.”
- The Rosé is
also mentioned in the issue n°66 of
Tentation
Magazine:
“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).”
PRESS REVIEW
A few new
articles from the 2007 wine guides
Dussert-Gerbert
2007
(p 429 & 455).
Premier grand
vin classé ***** by Patrick Dussert-Gerbert who liked very much:
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 Xth 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.
Gilbert and Gaillard guide 2007.
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 Xth 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.”
Charles-Walter
PACAUD
Artisan-Vigneron
