2013: Year of the Midi

You may have heard about the difficulties of the 2013 vintage in Bordeaux and Burgundy...i.e. there won’t be much wine! These may be the most famous regions but remember they are just a small part of la belle France. There is one place where there are some fruity, spicy, rich, simply fantastic (in fact downright sexy) wines this vintage. Yes, we’re back in Tony’s old stomping ground, the Midi, Languedoc-Roussillon. And the secret to finding the best wines? Working with true vignerons, guys who spend most of their time in the vineyard where it all happens.

These guys are not always easy to find. I’m sure Tony or our winemaker Mark will happily fill you in on my mistake in planning our route. Yes there are two towns with the same name, and yes they are 2 hours apart, and yes, we did end up driving all over the Languedoc in the most ridiculous order imaginable. And we had to do a lot of driving at night so even missed out on the view! But even if it was the long (very very long) way round, it was worth the effort. From Joseph Bousquet at 4 Pilas, to Baptiste at Domaine Torquebiau, le rugbyman Alain at Roquebrun and Jean-Luc Terrier at Domaine Autugnac, we are going back to our roots, working closely with these growers to find spectacular wines that over-deliver for the price. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay too expensive and in short supply in Burgundy? Merlot been decimated in Bordeaux? Alsacian Gewurztraminer in great demand? It’s all in the Midi (yes even Gewurz), along with the more traditional inky dark Syrah and Grenache, and mouth-watering Viognier and Roussanne. So forget all the doom and gloom about 2013: it’s going to be the year to head south, go where the sun shines, and drink up Midi style. But I won’t bore you with more details. Read Tony’s blog here: http://lwcoukblog.wpengine.com/?p=162. He says it all.