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180 Fontanilles 2007 VdP Val de Montferrand 4.95
This
light and refreshing blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni, and Grenache Blanc makes a delightful easy drinking wine suitable for use as an aperitif or with a range of milder flavoured food. With a
pleasant colour and modern label it is well balanced between fruit and dryness. Great value for every day drinking and big parties.
240 Domaine le Bosquet 2006/7 VdP Cotes de Thongue 5.30
The simple blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier delivers some
green fruit scents and flavours from the Sauvignon and hints of mango and apricot from the Viognier. This wine focuses on its dry fruitiness. It is immediately appealing and
enjoyable. Domaine le Bosquet is produced by the owners of Montmarin, by the Bassin de Thau in Languedoc, who also produce the super Domain Mont-Auriol wines,several of which we supply.
111 Belle Epine 2007 VdP d’Oc 5.35
A new and interesting blend of Sauvignon
Blanc and Chardonnay from a new producer, Les Vignerons de Schistes, the Belle Epine has a great balance between fruit and structure. The Sauvignon Blanc dominates, giving a wine which will be
enjoyed by those who have moved on from traditional Chardonnays. Served between 6-8ºC it is ideal for cocktail parties, as an aperitif or with light cuisine. Made by Giles Canton.
801 Chateau du Vieux Parc Tradition 2005 AOC Corbieres 5.50
Made by Louis Panis. Grown
along the pebbled terraced slopes along the Orbieu River, this is a limpid light yellow wine of great traditional character. It is round with hints of honey, toasted bread, exotic fruits and white
flowers. It is 80% Grenache Blanc and 20% Vermentino and is matured in oak barrels for 6 months. I am attracted to this value wine by its superb balance. It should be served at 8-10 C.
470 Petite Roubie Marsanne 2005 (Organic) VdP de l’Herault 5.50
It is fairly unusual to find
a varietal Marsanne and one made fully organically is very rare. Petitie Roubie has been making wine organically for more than 20 years and we have been monitoring their progress. This Marsanne
is a delight, with charming fruit and sufficient structure. This is a great wine for drinks parties, served at around 8oC.
407 Ressac Picpoul de Pinet 2006 AOC Picpoul Coteaux de Languedoc 5.95
Made by Sebastian
Martin. The Picpoul grape or cepage produces light dry, acid, crisp wines which are sometimes green-gold and may have lemon flavours. Two general classes of Picpoul are produced in the Languedoc,
those which are matured for a short time and are wonderfully crisp and those which are matured for twice as long, which are darker in colour and fuller and more mellow. This Ressac falls in the
first category and is a wonderful accompaniment to shellfish, seafood dishes and chicken recipes. It is also a great dry white for a drinks party. Serve at 8-10ºC.
260 Domaine Mont-Auriol Sauvignon Blanc 2006/7 VdP Cotes de Thongue 5.95
This is a well presented,
elegant Sauvignon Blanc, erring on the drier side, but preserving the essential qualities of the grape, with hints of gooseberry, elderflower and possibly passion fruit. The Domaine is situated just
North of the Bassin de Thau between Beziers and Montpellier and is very close to the Baronnie de Bourgade, producers of the excellent Trois Poules wines, which we also supply.
374 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem 2006 VdP de l’Herault 5.95
Made by the Guibert
family, proprietors of the famous Mas de Daumas Gassac’s ‘magic valley’, from their vineyards near Paulhan in the Herault Valley, this is a very well balanced white made in the
traditional way. It is primarily designed to be drunk as an accompaniment to a meal and as such is drier than some wines but with a good structure and good length. The blend is of Sauvignon
Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc. The vines are between 25 and 50 years old and their cultivation is organic.
402 Ressac Sauvignon Blanc 2006/7 VdP d’Oc 5.95
Gold Medal 2004 from Vignerons
de l’Herault and Silver Medal in Paris 2004. Florensac, which produces the Ressac range, is situated just North of the Bassin de Thau between Beziers and Montpellier. Having employed a
Scottish winemaker, Ivo, with huge experience in California, Australia and New Zealand, to make the big change, Florensac is innovating fast. This Sauvignon Blanc is remarkably good and outstanding
value. It should be served at 6-8ºC. Amphora is the sole importer of Florensac wines to the UK and we are determined to promote this Cave, which has great potential. Made by Sebastian
Martin.
450 Domaine de Cibadies Chardonnay 2007 VdP d’Oc 5.95
Domaine de Cibadies lies
just North of the ancient Greek then Roman settlement of Oppidum d’Enserune and therefore the vineyards where these vines are grown have probably been used for that purpose for many more than 2000
years. The property is well above the valley and the Canal du Midi, ensuring good ventilation and full exposure to the Mediterranean sun. There are some who turned away from Chardonnay since
some New World producers were stifling the qualities of the grape with oak. This very affordable Chardonnay is lightly oaked, enough to enhance the balance of the wine, while encouraging the
expression of the Chardonnay fruit. Super wine, great value. Best served chilled 6-8oC
950 Domaine St Georges d’Ibry Sauvignon Blanc 2007 VdP Cotes de Thongue 5.95
A harvest
starting just before dawn each day, at the coolest time, ensures that the grapes are fresh at the start of the wine-making process – essential to preserve the delicate fruit flavours of white
wines. The vines are cultivated under the environmentally friendly and healthy Terra Vitis regime. This wine is light (13% alcohol), fresh and lively with scents of peach and pear and aromatic,
floral tastes and a pleasant length. Ideal as both an aperitif and with food, it is best served around 8 to 10C. Made by Michel Cros in his own domaine.
908 Les Trois Poules Vermentino 2007 VdP d’Oc 6.10
The grapes are picked and are
then pressed slowly and continuously to extract maximum flavour. This means that although this is an uncomplicated and easy drinking wine it has a full fruity (a hint of mango), lemony, clean and
fresh flavour and lovely colour. It can be drunk throughout the year as an aperitif and is excellent with seafood. Serve chilled. 100% Vermentino (also known in France as Rolle). Made by
Giles and Ruth de Latude.
261 Domaine Mont-Auriol Viognier 2006/7 VdP Cotes de Thongue 6.10
Viognier is an increasingly popular grape and has settled well in Languedoc, both as a varietal and as a cepage for blending. It typically has hints of apricot and
mango, both in the nose and on the palate. This pure Viognier strikes an excellent balance between Viognier’s sometimes exuberant fruit and structured dryness. While this is an affordable
wine, it is very enjoyable both as an aperitif and with light to medium flavoured cuisine.
108 Cabrieres Fulcrand Cabanon Moelleux VdP Cotes de Thongue 6.10
A wonderfully refreshing
wine with a light and pleasing sweetness which, when served cold, is a great boost after a long day's work. Clariette de Languedoc grape left to develop to full ripeness to give the hint of
natural fruit sugars. Delicious – give it a try.
403 Ressac Muscat des Garrigues 2005 VdP Cotes de Thau 6.40
Gold Medal Paris 2003. Made by
Sebastian Martin. Muscat is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest sweet wines (eg Muscat de Frontignan, Rivesaltes, Lunel etc) and it is rare to find it in a dry form. This cepage
is grown near the top of steep slopes above a valley which is full of the local Picpoul de Pinet grape. The wine has a rich, almost pungent nose, with scents absolutely typical of the Muscat
cepage. The wine is very full and smooth on the tongue with a hint of honey and strong fruit and herbs. This is seriously interesting. Serve at 6-8ºC.
276 L’Envol de Familongue 2007 VdP Mont Baudille 6.50
Jean Luc and Martine
Quinquarlet are very skillful winemakers and grow their grapes without use of artificial fertilisers or herbicides. The grapes are hand-picked and are pressed directly after being picked to preserve
the fruit flavours. After settling for 48 hours, the fermentation takes place in spotless stainless steel vats with cooling to prevent oxidation. The result is a wine, Grenache Blanc 80%,
Clairette 20%, which is pale, almost colourless in the glass, with a lemon and pepper nose and a fresh, lively presentation in the mouth with decent body. Great served around 12C as a aperitif or
with white meats, especially grilled fish.
759 Domaine les Quatre Pilas QP4 – Chant des Grillons 2007 AOC Coteaux du Languedoc 6.90
Made by
Joseph and Sylvie Bousquet, the owners of prize-winning Domaine les Quatre Pilas, this wine is a delightful blend of Vermentino (fresh, lemon flavours), Roussanne (haunting aroma akin to a fresh herb
tea) and Viognier (full body, with hints of peach, apricot and blossom). The grapes are harvested at full maturity and the yield is kept low (30HL/Ha) to ensure good concentration and
intensity. Its style, quality and complexity mean that it is excellent value at the price. Best around 12C, it is lovely by itself as a drink or with flavourful white meats and fish.
803 Chateau du Vieux Parc Selection 2004 AOC Corbieres Terroir de Lezignan 7.85
A delightful,
complex and rare wine (very limited production) made by Louis Panis to the East of Carcassonne. The blend (60% white Grenache (old vines), 40% Vermentino) is vinified traditionally in new oak
barrels and then matured for 8 months, with regular stirring of the lees to transfer all the flavours. Pale gold in colour with flashes of green, its nose has scents of fruit and toast. In the
mouth it is round, soft, lightly honeyed with sensations of exotic fruits and white flowers. This wine won the coveted ‘Coup de Coeur’ in the 2005 Guide Hachette.
471 Petite Roubie Picpoul l’Arbre Blanc 2002 (Organic) AOC Picpoul de Pinet 7.90
This is a surprising but fascinating wine. The Picpoul grape is typically made very dry with
a lot of structure. Its fully organic production and aging in oak delivers amazing softness and complexity to both the nose and to the flavours on the palate with delightful results. The
surprise comes in the finish, which is remarkably short and clean for a wine of such ‘up front’ quality. Despite being unusual and of particular interest, this fully yellow wine can be
enjoyed by many, from the newcomer to wine to the connoisseur. Best served around 10C.
758 Domaine les Quatre Pilas La Croix du Jubile Viognier 2006 VdP d’Oc 7.95
Made entirely by
Joseph and Sylvie Bousquet, the owners of prize-winning Domaine les Quatre Pilas, this skilfully crafted wine is a pure varietal Viognier. Production is low (30HL.Ha) to ensure concentrated liquid
and the grapes are harvested at their fullest maturity. The wine is fermented using the malo-lactic technique to develop soft fruit and then matured in 400L French oak barrels, with regular stirring
of the lees. In the nose and mouth, there are hints of mango and apricot. Best around 10C.
230 Mas de Pountil 2007 VdP Mont Baudile 8.35
This rare white wine is an extremely
interesting blend of Clairette du Languedoc, Roussane and Chein Blanc in equal parts. The yield is kept very low to deliver intense flavours and the pressing and handling of the grape juice is done
under cold conditions. The wine is then both fermented and matured in oak barrels, and during the 7 month maturation, the wine is stirred daily to release all the flavours. The result is a
fascinating wine with complex floral aromas, a range of rich flavours and great length. It is super with grilled seafood and light white cheeses, but for many it will be enjoyed most by
itself. Serve slightly chilled at around 10C. Made by Angela and Brice Bautou.
331 Domaine Ollier Taillefer Allegro 2007 AOC Faugeres 8.90
Buy this excellent wine while it
is in stock – Amphora was only allowed 300 bottles. Francoise Ollier Taillefer runs her vineyards superbly – everything in the vineyard is clean, neat, tidy and beautifully pruned
– under a strict Terre Vitis regime. The vines grow at some of the highest points in Faugeres, swept by dry winds in summer and cleansed by severe frosts in winter. Allegro, 50%
Vermentino and 50% Roussanne, is hand-picked and vinified and matured at low temperatures to keep the fruit flavours fresh. The result has a nose of white flowers and pears, flavours of honey, lime
flowers and verbena and a round rich, mineral presentation. Delicious and fascinating. Best at 12C.
370 Mas de Daumas Gassac 2007 VdP de l’Herault 22.00
Michael Broadbent –
“One of the ten best [white] wines in the world” – “Simply unique”. Mas Daumas Gassac was an early leader in the quality revolution in Languedoc and is now world-renowned
for its wines of stunning quality. The vineyards include the ‘magic valley’, which has a uniquely favourable microclimate in an area (near Aniane, on the East bank of the River Herault) which
makes some of the finest wine in the world. The Mas Daumas Gassac wines are made to the very highest standards and are crafted to deliver reliable excellence. As a result, the white wine wine
(made principally from Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay and Manseng) can contain up to 20 different grape varieties to achieve exactly the desired quality. The wines are in great demand around the
world and are strictly allocated to selected vintners. Amphora is lucky to have been given a small allocation of bottles, which we are offering at a very competitive price.
410 Ressac Blanc Bag in Box 5L NV Vin de Table (NB 5 litres – fridge size) 27.50
This is a light, refreshing bag-in-box vin de table which is ideal for a fruity pick-me-up on
return from work in the evening or for a quick salad lunch. The convenient 5 litre box fits more easily into domestic refrigerators than its 10 litre counterpart. Blended by Sebastian Martin at
Florensac.
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