Being a wine lover in New York City comes with its obvious benefits, but sometimes we’re want to get away from it all and break free from the constraints of usual. If its “new” and unique wines you seek, we suggest venturing into the wild. Southwestern France is home to myriad appellations and some of France’s most interesting wines. and Pierre Laplace Madiran 2007Domaine du Cros Marcillac Lo Sang del Païs 2008 are two great examples of affordable, everyday wines with charm and personality from this wine frontier.
Madiran, Gascony’s most dynamic appellation, specializes in the durable Tannat grape. These ruggedly, tannic wines have historically needed cellaring in order to become approachable. Pierre Laplace (above, with his family) incorporates micro-oxygenation, a method of softening wines that has gained wide acceptance around the globe. They also blend in Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc to add further complexity. The end result captures all of the raw concentration of dark berry fruit and spice and combines it with a velvety finish. Interestingly, there are some who claim that Tannat could even help your brain!
Not as widely recognized but equally as unique, the wines of Marcillac evolved from a long history dating back to the Romans. Fer (locally known as Mansois) is the star variety of the region, lending wines intense cassis and blackberry fruit notes and a characteristic peppery finish. For four generations, Domaine du Cros (above) has been producing excellent wines from Fer. Their “Lo Sang del Païs” cuvée is hand harvested from 25 year old vines. It is then vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for 15-20 days, keeping the natural fresh fruit character intact.
At Vino, we have always had a soft spot for these hard-to-find wines of the Southwest because of their honest “rough around the edges” appeal. So the next time you’re ready to venture off the beaten path, grab one of these untamed wines.
Pierre Laplace Madiran 2007
$14
Domaine du Cros Marcillac Lo Sang du Païs 2008
$15
For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.