($23, Albert Bichot USA):  With this wine, Maset des Montagnes, one of the estates under the umbrella of Domaines N & M de Lorgeril, shows that refreshing whites can come from the sun baked south of France.  This 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Macabeu delivers an enlivening combination of delicate stone fruitiness and spice all supported by a firm spine of acidity. … Read more

($9, Kysela Père et Fils): It’s tough to figure out who is the producer of this wine.  The importer’s name, Kysela Père et Fils, figures prominently on the front label above the letters HB.  It turns out that the HB stands for Hugues Beaulieu, a co-operative which also carries the name Les Costières de Pomérols. … Read more

($9, Kysela Père et Fils): It’s tough to figure out who is the producer of this wine.  The importer’s name, Kysela Père et Fils, figures prominently on the front label above the letters HB.  It turns out that the HB stands for Hugues Beaulieu, a co-operative which also carries the name Les Costières de Pomérols. … Read more

($17, Taub Family Selections):  Limoux, a village in the foothills of the Pyrenes in southwestern France, has a long tradition — likely longer even than Champagne — for making sparkling wines.  Côté Mas, led by Jean-Claude Mas and his encompassing 15 properties covering about 2,000 acres, is one of the leading producers in the Languedoc. … Read more

($20, Wines Of France):  The Languedoc region of France is a treasure trove for wines, from those labeled Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP, or what was formerly Vin de Pays) to more prestigious ones that carry an appellation, such as this one.… Read more

($15):  Picpoul de Pinet is a name to remember for lively and taut white wines.  Made exclusively from the Picpoul grape, which literally means “stings the lip” because of its high acidity, it’s a perfect choice for the heat and humidity of summer. … Read more

($20):  Though the Languedoc may be best known for its red wines, the whites have gotten better.  Take this one, for example.  Surprisingly fresh and lively for its southern origins, it delivers lovely weight and texture.  It’s a blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne that conveys a hint of stone fruit flavors with a lovely citrus tang. … Read more

($12, Quintessential):  Georges DuBoeuf, whose name is synonymous with Beaujolais and Flower Bottles, is expanding yet again to the south of France.  He’s no stranger to Chardonnay, bottling some excellent examples from closer to home in the Mâconnais, such as a delightful Mâcon-Villages and an even more up-scale Pouilly Fuissé. … Read more

($26, Kermit Lynch):  Consumers need to learn more seemingly obscure geographic names.  Wine regulators in the Languedoc have identified 34 sub-regions, six of which no longer carry even Languedoc on the label and are referred to as cru, that produce more distinctive wines. … Read more

($9):  This straightforward, fruity, delightful wine perhaps does not deserve 90 points, but it gets extra credit for value.  A blend of Grenache (70%) and Carignan, this fresh and lively red delivers a balanced array of red fruit flavors, spice and herbal elements. … Read more

($16, EDV Esprit du Vin):  Everyone I know is always looking for affordable non-Champagne sparkling wine.  Crémant from France is a good place to look.  Crémant, which literally means creamy, has slightly less pressure than Champagne and is made in many wine-producing areas, such as Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, and this one, a Crémant de Limoux from the southwestern part of the country. … Read more

($16, Ideal Wines & Spirits): Phil Minervino, one of the owners of a Newton Lower Falls Wines, a jewel of a wine shop outside of Boston, and a superb taster, recommended this somewhat obscure wine to me.  As he said, “No one comes in asking for Carignan Blanc.” … Read more

($16, T. Edward Wines): Corbières, one of the many appellations in the Languedoc, offers sturdy reds, such as this one, ideal for wintery fare.  Dark fruit flavors dominate in this blend of Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, but do not overpower, and harmonize nicely with herbal notes. … Read more

($30, HB Wine Merchants): Michel Chapoutier, the renowned Rhône producer, has a personal estate in the Languedoc, called Bila-Haut.  Latour de France (not to be confused with the bicycle race) is one of the four specific towns that have the potential to produce more distinctive wine and are allowed to append their names to the more encompassing Côtes du Rousssillon Villages appellation, much like the better villages in the Rhône can attach their names to the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation.… Read more

($13, H. B. Wine Merchants): Chapoutier, one of the great Rhône producers, has expanded into the Languedoc with a terrific trio of wines, a white, a red and a rosé, from the Côtes du Roussillon appellation.  This crisp and refreshing white has a surprising lift that balances and enhances the subtle stone fruit character. … Read more

($13, H. B. Wine Merchants): Chapoutier, one of the great producers of Rhone wines, has recently started producing wines in the Languedoc and we consumers are the beneficiaries.  This robust red has all the sun-kissed warm fruit flavors you’d expect from the South of France while savory spicy notes act as a foil. … Read more

($13, Louis Dressner Selections): Château d’Oupia, one of the most reliable producers in the Languedoc, has fashioned an engaging rosé from the usual Mediterranean blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault.  A deeper color than most rosé, it delivers more spice and character than you’d expect along with bright fresh acidity that lends refreshing verve. … Read more

($19, USA Wine West): Pic Saint Loup, one of the top areas within the Languedoc, is in line to receive its own appellation because its wines have the potential stand above the rest.  Gérard Bertrand, a well-established négociant in the Languedoc, has realized that potential. … Read more

($29, USA Wine West): The label says it all. This bombastic Grenache-based wine is massive and intense, but it not hot or rough, carrying, as Grenache often does, its 15.9% stated alcohol remarkably well. For all its ripeness, it actually has a pleasantly bitter, not sweet, finish.… Read more

($20, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): Hecht & Bannier is a high quality négociant specializing in the wines from the Languedoc.  If you ever want to explore how the wines from the different appellations in this part of the South of France differ, pick up bottlings from Hecht & Bannier and taste them side by side. … Read more

($14, Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.): The Languedoc, an enormous swath of vineyards in the sunny South of France extending west from the Rhone River to the Spanish border, is a minefield for wine.  The wines range from unique and wonderful to astringent and dilute. … Read more

($12, HB Wine Merchants): You have just found your summertime grilling wine!  Pech-Latt is one of the star producers in Corbières, one of the Languedoc’s most important appellations.  A blend of Grenache (30%), Carignan (30%) Syrah (25%) and Mouvèdre, it transmits the sun and spice of the South of France. … Read more

($13, Baron Francois): Cabardès, a small appellation in the Languedoc, sits where Atlantic and Mediterranean climatic influences meet.  It’s one of the few areas in France where regulations permit grapes from both regions.  Reflecting the tradition of the area, the Château de Pennautier, owned by Comte Nicolas de Longeril, one of the Languedoc’s most reliable names, is composed of equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache and Syrah. … Read more

($9, Palm Bay International): Despite the name, I must recommend this Chardonnay because it delivers more than the price suggests. Most Chardonnays at this price are clumsy and slightly sweet. Paul Mas, one of the region’s notable négociants, has made one that’s clean and fresh, with a delicate creaminess atop its tart apple-like fruitiness.… Read more

($20, Kermit Lynch): The appellation system in the Languedoc is currently undergoing dramatic changes. Technically, this wine is still an AOC Coteaux du Languedoc with the name of the subregion, Montpeyroux, on the label. Soon, it will have its own appellation, simply Montpeyroux.… Read more

($26, Polaner): Although the Terrasses du Larzac, one of the best subregions of the Coteaux du Languedoc, has not yet gained official recognition, I have listed it as the appellation because it is expected to be awarded that status within the year. … Read more

($13, Polaner): Mas de Daumas Gassac, dubbed the Lafite of the Languedoc by France’s prestigious Gault et Millau guide in 1982, has been producing this value packed every day kind of wine since the early 1990s.  It is not a second wine by any means since the blend–Syrah (40%), Grenache (25%), Mourvèdre (20%) and Carignan–bears no resemblance to their top wine, which is primarily (80%) Cabernet Sauvignon.  … Read more

($14, The Organic Wine Company): Maison des Terroirs Vivants is one of the leading producers of organic wines in the Languedoc. They have an uncanny ability to find and bottle pristine wines and sell them at extraordinary prices. This Chardonnay has an engaging note of pineapple without being tropical or overdone.… Read more

($15, The Organic Wine Company): An incredible value, this $15 Syrah manages to combine the attractive slightly beefy and the ripe plumy components that Syrah can deliver. It’s a masterful mix, especially at the price. Certainly bold enough for wintertime fare–or steaks on the grill (summer will eventually be here)–it’s not overdone or alcoholic.… Read more

($27, The Organic Wine Company): The team at Chateau Bousquette has seamlessly integrated Syrah and Grenache to produce a stellar wine that delivers both power and elegance. Red fruit and herbal notes are harmoniously intertwined with earthy mineral-like elements in this complex, layered beauty.… Read more

($16, The Organic Wine Company): The Languedoc is finally getting its act together and transforming itself from the so-called wine lake to a place to find excellent wines. The benefit for consumers is that the prices have yet to catch up to the quality of the wines.… Read more

($12, Frederick Wildman):  The vast majority of wines from the Languedoc are red.  But Hecht et Bannier has managed to find growers who make fresh and lively whites.  A blend of Piquepoul (80%), which provides invigorating freshness, and Roussanne, which adds body, it’s a pleasant surprise, coming from this warm part of France. … Read more

($18, Frederick Wildman):   A smaller appellation within the greater Languedoc, Minervois has the potential to produce wines with more finesse.  And this one does.  Still slightly tarry with spice, even a hint of licorice, it’s more focused on the pepper and spice rather than solely the fruit notes. … Read more

($12, Frederick Wildman):  Hecht et Bannier, a small high-quality négociant, is something of a rarity in this part of France.  Founded only about 10 years ago, they make wines from many of the diverse appellations within the larger Languedoc area.  If you ever wanted to know the differences among, say, Minervois, Côtes du Roussillon Villages and Faugères, this is the place to start because the winemaking is the same. … Read more

($11, Jean-Christophe Calvet Selection, Aquitaine Wine USA):  This wine is a superb example of why it pays to listen to knowledgeable retailers or sommeliers.  I had never heard of the IGP, Cité de Carcassonne, let along Domaine Laroque, an estate that specializes in Cabernet Franc, not one of the mainstay grapes of the south of France.… Read more

($40, USA Wine West):  One of the exciting things about the Vin de Pays wines is the flexibility the producer has compared to the rigid regulations of an Appellation d’origine Contrôlée (AOC) wine.  With Cigalus, Gérard Bertrand has made the unconventional blend of Chardonnay (80%), Viognier (15%) and Sauvignon Blanc that works to create a stylish white wine. … Read more

($70, USA Wine West):  Gérard Bertrand is one of the winemaking stars in the Languedoc.  La Forge, his flagship red, is a blend of old (100-year) vine Carignan and Syrah from a single vineyard on his estate, Domaine de Villemajou in newly recognized appellation, Corbières Boutenac, carved out of Corbières because of its distinctive terroir. … Read more

($20, Vintus):  AXA, the insurance company that also owns Château Pichon Baron and other superb properties, purchased this one in 2002 because it had “good bones.”  They poured gobs of money into it renovating and modernizing the vineyards and winery and it shows in this gorgeous wine. … Read more

($13, Vintus Imports):  Domaine des Salices, another François Lurton estate, makes a lovely array of wines from the Languedoc region in the southwest of France.  Taking advantage of the looser regulations of the Vin de Pays designation (as opposed to the stricter appellation controllée rules), they sell the wines using varietal names. … Read more

($13, Pasternak Wine Imports):  The usual Mediterranean suspects, Syrah (45%), Mourvèdre (30%), Carignan (15%), and Grenache, come together here to form a winning combination.  There’s a wild strawberry-like fruitiness coupled with engaging earthy notes for added complexity.  Nicely polished tannins make this mid-weight red easy to enjoy now. … Read more

($9, Pasternak Wine Imports):  Corbières, one of the best known of the many appellations that comprise the Languedoc region in the south of France, is a good source of high value red wine.  And this is one of them.  A typical Mediterranean blend of Grenache (40%), Syrah (30%), Mourvèdre 20 (%), and Carignan, it has a lovely combination of delicate spice and succulent red fruit, almost wild strawberry-like, notes. … Read more

($17, Pasternak Wine Imports):  The usual suspects — Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan — come together to form a more muscular and sophisticated version of Les Deux Rives (also reviewed this week).  Deeper and more concentrated, it conveys the similar attractive combination of spice and black fruit flavors. … Read more

($14, Jenny and Francois Selections):  The usual Mediterranean blend of Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre has come together nicely in this moderately full-bodied red wine.  Filled with a combination of spice, herbs and red fruit-like flavors, it’s balanced and fresh.  It would be a good choice for simple meat or even well seasoned chicken on the grill.… Read more

($20, Merlin Wine):  This unconventional blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Mauzac translates into a lovely combination of green apple-like flavors with a subtle creaminess.  It’s a classy bright sparkling wine from a leading cooperative in the region with surprising elegance for the price.… Read more

($20, Vintex): This seamless blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (20%) and Mourvèdre delivers an exciting combination of spice and plummy black fruit. It’s a powerful yet not overdone wine. Supple tannins and a fleshy texture make it easy to enjoy now, especially with the start of the grilling season.… Read more

($10, Kysela Peres et Fils): Castelmaure, a cooperative, is one of the leading producers in Corbières.  A typical blend for the region, Carignan (50%), Grenache (35%) and Syrah, this mid-weight red delivers floral notes and spice at an extremely attractive price. … Read more

($15, Margaux & Co.): Regulations for Corbières mandate that Carignan comprises no more than 50% of the blend to encourage the use of so-called improving varieties. The Cuvée Céline S, a blend of less than one-third Carignan—Syrah (40%) and Grenache account for the remainder—delivers a lovely balance of bright red and black fruit flavors and alluring spicy nuances. … Read more

($18, Grape Expectations):  The Languedoc, a vast area in France’s southwest, remains confusing to consumers because of the plethora of appellations within the area.  It’s worth slogging through the place names because a bevy of well-priced wines, such as this one, originate there. … Read more

($12, Louis Dressner Selections):  Minervois, a small appellation (10,000 acres) within the Languedoc, has the potential for producing wines with considerable character, such as this one.  A wonderful mixture of gamey elements, earthy notes, and nuances of spice, it has remarkable suave and polished tannins for a wine from this area. … Read more

($15, Kermit Lynch):  The Côteaux du Languedoc is an appellation (25,000 acres, roughly half the size of Napa) within the enormous Languedoc (500,000 acres) (in southern France on the west side of Rhône River where the typical Rhone varieties thrive.  A classic blend of Syrah (60%), Grenache (35%) and Mourvedre, the Chateau Lascaux is filled with spice and herbal elements mingled with black fruit flavors. … Read more