Interestingly enough, the label does say Appellation Minervois Contrôlée. An image is available over here:

http://www.maisondesvins.be/images/domaine/Pierre-Cros/minervois-vieilles-vignes.jpg

It’s a bit of mystery. I’ll try to ask Pierre Cros the next time I talk to him and let you know.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

I completely agree about Languedoc Merlot — it just doesn’t really work.

I’ve never tried the Domaine Cros Vielles Vignes but would imagine that it is not a Minervois but a Vin de Pays des Hauts de Badens since AOC Minervois is as you mention 60% max Carignan. The term Vielles Vignes is mostly used for 100% varietal wines as complex blends such as Minervois would usually have several different vine ages. Unfortunately if you don’t have the label in front of you, it’s hard to verify!

I’m fond of quality Carignan wines as they tend to have much more character than the fashionable Bordelais varieties planted everywhere in the New World and Midi these days (yes, I mean Merlot). Carignan wines usually stop a tiny step short of true greatness and their aging potential is limited to about five years, yet in hands of gifted winemakers they can become a treat even to the most demanding connaisseur. What I especially like about them is the wild, rustic, leatherly flavor, difficult to find in any other variety, especially in a relatively young wine.

My great pick is Domaine Cros Vieilles Vignes (Minervois), which has provided stunning character and complexity in any vintage I came across over the past few years. However, here’s a question: the tasting notes for this wine usually state that this is 100% carignan, yet it’s classified as AOC Minervois. My impression was that one could not have more than 60% of Carignan in that appelation… am I missing something?

Hi Marcus, Thanks for your recommendation as well. Merlot just seems to turn out weird in the Languedoc. It must be too hot for it to develop as we know it. We had another “Heretique” from Mas des Chimères but this time made from Cab. Sauv. and Merlot. Given the grape varieties it probably should have been called “Crusader” and was the oddest wine sampled on our trip. We brought a bottle back for analysis in the lab.

It will certainly be a true indication of Carignan’s reversal of fortune if it starts showing up on import labels. I know that the Chateau d’Oupia Les Hérétiques bottle never listed grape varieties, although Louis/Dressner doesn’t do explanatory back label for any of its wines.

To tell you the truth, I feel like a lot of these vin de pays brands are still a bit shy about revealing their Carignan. Sometimes, I appreciate a wine that I sense has a lot of Carignan in it but end up frustrated searching to find out the percentage in the blend.

One great blend (of Carignan and Merlot of all things) is the Michel Marty cuvée named L’If.

Cheers and greetings to a fellow Wine Centurian,

Steve

Flattery will get you nowhere. Except, of course, here. Thank you for the very kind words of encouragement. Shanghai may not be a sophisticated market but must be a very interesting one with virtually every major winemaker looking for market share.

Cheers,

Steve