Form Your ranks Languedoc
‘Vignerons Catalan’ between terroir and modernity
A new range of wines promoted by Dominique Laporte
‘France’s Best Sommelier’ in 2004 and ‘MOF’ in the same year, he brings his experience to this group comprised of 3 500 vine growers. After ‘Fruité Catalan’, his knowledge and passion for wine are now used to boost the development of ‘Terroir Catalan’, a collection that represents a significant rise in quality and a more superior category for these wines loyal to the image of an agricultural region of a rare abundance.
Present throughout the ‘Vinisud’ exhibition at the ‘Vignerons Catalans’ stand, Dominique Laporte played the role of a genuine ambassador for these wines. This venture began several months earlier with the launch of ‘Terroir Catalan’, a range of wines (three reds and a rosé), for which Dominique Laporte’s involvement is evident and represents far more than just putting his signature on the bottle. “I wanted to work alongside these vine growers who were determined to take their own destiny in hand when faced with the economic crisis in their sector that threatened to completely wipe them off the wine map. Initially, they launched ‘Fruité Catalan’, with which they wanted to convey the image of a region known for the abundance of its agricultural production.” Available in white, rosé and red, ‘Fruité Catalan’ was first produced in 2005, and presented in an original style of bottle, whose label bore a butterfly that would become a clearly recognisable symbol. But the most important point is that ‘Fruité Catalan’ is anything but an ordinary wine, it is produced in the Côtes du Roussillon appellation.
Assert an identity
Always with the orientation of “modernising production that is often too classic”, the Catalan Vine Growers decided in 2007 to develop their wine-making skill alongside their fruity production. “The aim was to assert an identity by improving quality”, Dominique Laporte tells us. “From the idea of fruitiness linked to the Catalan character, we thus move on to the image of terroir, which shows the reality of the soil and sub-soil in the Catalan area. This terroir gives the wine all its texture and character. I therefore worked on the elaboration of four AOCs that comprise the new range and at the same time I defined an individual personality for each one.” Although ‘Fruité Catalan’ is aimed mainly for hyper-and supermarkets, with a set retail price of 2.99 Euros, outlets for ‘Terroir Catalan’ are wine boutiques and consequently restaurants, with a retail price of 4.99 Euros, which is still an appealing price. The name of the sommelier who joined the team of the Parisian restaurant ‘Auguste’, appears on the front of the bottle. The back label provides information about grape varieties, terroir and gives some delicious food and wine combinations. “We are loyal to the typical characteristics of fruit and spices and give a two-word definition for each of these four wines that aims to describe them in a nutshell. “Full-bodied and aromatic” applies to the rosé; “fleshy and mineral”, “silky and generous”, “robust and spicy” are the words used to present the three different types of red.”
A high-tech cork
These are wines loyal to a regional identity that Dominique Laporte defends with conviction and they have the advantage of very special care given to corking. Catalan Vine Growers chose ‘Guala Seal Elite’, a stopper comprised of three parts that combines permeability, easy uncorking and a pleasant look. Investment in this type of high-tech cork shows the particular care given to wines made under the ‘Terroir Catalan’ label. This approach is closely supervised by the French sommelier. He will soon bring his skill and sommelier’s perception to the creation of a new wine made by the ‘Vignerons Catalans’.
This wine will position itself in a far more superior category of the regional range.
Jean Bernard
http://www.terroircatalan.com/
A rosé and three red wines make up the range
of ‘Terroir Catalan’ presented at the occasion
of the ‘Vinisud’ exhibition in Montpellier..
Characteristics:
Full-bodied and aromatic: 75% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir and 5% Macabeu/Carignan make up the blend of this powerfully aromatic rosé that exudes fragrances of wild strawberries, raspberries, cherries, liquorice, violet and scrubland. On the palate it is full-bodied, fleshy with freshness and lots of richness. The finish is long and fruity.
Fleshy and mineral: With 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir and 25% Carignan, this red wine is made with grapes taken from carefully selected plots in the villages of Cassagnes and Caramany. It shows a dark garnet-red colour with bold purplish tints. It gives strong aromas of blackcurrant jam, zan and black pepper. The first taste gives delicious flavours and distinct tannins; it finishes on a predominance of freshness and blackcurrant hints.
Silky and generous: The Grenache Noir (45%), Syrah (40%) and Carignan (15%) grapes come from the villages of Montner, Planèzes and Rasiguières, where drastic selections were made. Its colour is a deep garnet-red and the nose is complex, marked by scents of blackberries, liquorice and juniper berries. On the palate its main characteristics are wonderful unctuousness, distinct, but silky tannins, and richness that smoothes it all and gives tremendous volume.
Robust and spicy: this third and last red wine combines the clay-limestone soils around Estagel with the chalky soils found between Baixas, Salses and Rivesaltes. Its blend consists of Syrah (40%), Grenache Noir (40%) Carignan (15%) and Mourvèdre (5%), giving it a very dark garnet-red colour. Its aromas are complex and unveil fragrances of fresh fig, plum, clove, pepper and slightly smoky, toasted hints. The first taste is powerful, but elegant. Its finish is spicy and persistent.
