A wine trip to The Languedoc Roussillon region of France, with a “vin” stop at the tres charming “La Fondelon” estate, along the banks of the Canal du Midi..
Written by Joseph de Laplagnolle. Edited by MarieAnn Mc Loughlin Dwyer.
Welcome to my very first article on wine, which was commissioned by editor, MarieAnn Mc Loughlin Dwyer. This is my very first wine review, so, let’s dive in & I hope that you enjoy!
We open with a little trip to the south of France and more particularly to the Languedoc Roussillon region. The Languedoc Roussillon vineyards stretch from Nîmes to Carcassonne along the Mediterranean coast. A vineyard territory which represents more than 200,000 hectares of vines. They alone account for about a third of French wine production.
The climate of the vineyard territory, is of course Mediterranean, with mild wet winters, and hot dry summers. It is a fairly windy vineyard with the Tramontane (a classical name for a northern wild) and the Mistral (a strong cold wind that blows from Southern France into the Gulf of Lion). Both winds allow for good health within the plots. These soils are very deep and constitute a real reservoir of water for the vines, which are capable of adapting to droughts and the wind.
There are a multitude of different soils, and many adapted grape varieties. The red wines of Languedoc Roussillon are powerful and generous, with fruity, slightly spicy notes. The rosé wines are round and fruity with a pretty pale pink color. Again, there are many different styles of wine within this vast vineyard.
The Languedoc vineyards include some very well-known appellations such as Corbières, Saint-Chinian, Fougères, Pic Saint Loup and Muscat de Rivesaltes.
The wines of Languedoc Roussillon are above all, wines of pleasure, intense and fruity. They will always surprise and delight you with their finesse and elegance.
Speaking of pleasurable wine, let me unearth for you an organic wine from the Domaine de La Fondelon estate. The estate has been in the same family since 1785. Located on the banks of the Canal du Midi, just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea. La Fondelon covers more than eight hectares and enjoys exceptional sunshine all year round. Marine Granel is an independent winemaker and owner-grower situated here. She has been working her land for more than 15 years with great respect for the terroir, the soil. She harvests her grapes and bottles them in a modern cellar located in former stables. She creates her wines in the purest tradition, and vinifies in small volumes, this is in order to enhance the diversity of her plots.
The wine we have selected from The Domaine de La Fondelon estate is called “La réserve d’Augustin”. It is called the reserve because it is a wine that needs to be kept for at least three years. While it is not a new wine, it is also not a wine to be kept for a long time.
Marine carefully created this “in-between” option, to stand out from the competition, and to find a new market, while taking advantage of the benefits of quintessential conservation techniques. To expand upon the process, the wine spends a year in barrels made from French oak from the Troncet forest, it then spends a year in vats, to finish with a year in the bottle.
The result? An exceptional and superior wine that comes from a clay-limestone terroir, a deep soil located in the former bed of the Aude. As for the grape variety, it is the living produce of a vine planted in 1975, and called Merlot. A fine, duel barrelled wine aged with care. it is a powerful, aromatic, and supple wine to be enjoyed on fine occasions.
For the purpose of this article, I have presented what one could describe as, the head of the cuvées, however, other wines await, and may also surprise you! Why not explore a little further here: https://www.lafondelon.fr.
On a finishing note (pun intended!) I must tell you that one of the most charming elements to Marine’s story, is that she proudly welcomes global visitors to her exceptional and unique vineyard. In this way wine lovers will also experience the magnificent region of Languedoc Roussillon. The Domaine de La Fondelon estate provides authentic, comfortable, and typical French gites (a gite is a traditional French accommodation) where you can relax, and taste many varieties of delicious wines.
Wine lover’s of the world…What are you waiting for? Bon Voyage!
