Earlier this summer many of our larger ABC stores featured a free French wine tasting, focusing on the Languedoc region in Southern France. These geographically specific tastings usually feature between three to eight wines and are completely free! We’ve had similar Rioja tastings, Loire Valley tastings and Northern Italy tastings in the past, usually on a Friday or Saturday. Our local wine consultants send out messages in advance, so if you didn’t get the message, get with your local ABC wine consultant and get on the messaging list!

Though it was a weekend where many people seemed to be out of town, we still had 25 people attend at my store.  They really enjoyed a mini wine seminar on the Languedoc, nestled between the Cotes du Rhone and Spain. We featured five wines: one white, one rosé and three reds. We covered the whole region starting with the Languedoc’s own white varietal, Picpoul de Pinet. It lost favor post-Phylloxera, but Picpoul Blanc has made a comeback in sandier soils near the Mediterranean. Chateau Petit Roubié, Picpoul de Pinet 2012 is the perfect white wine for Florida seafood, with mineral notes on the nose, limestone and lime zest, and some tart citrus on the palate. Crisp and refreshing, this wine pairs perfectly with oysters and shellfish as well as a whole gamut of fruits de mer. It’s a little thicker on the palate than a Muscadet or Pinot Grigio, so it can work for some of your Chardonnay fiends.

The rosé was from Domaine Magellan, as well as our reserve red offering. The rosé, Le Fruit Defendu, is 100% Cinsault, giving it a sharper mineral edge with hints of rhubarb and cranberry and citrus pith on the palate. The Domaine Magellan Pezanas Red 2010 is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, not a typical percentage for Rhone varietals, giving this wine a deeper pepper spice thanks to the increased Syrah. Pezanas is a small sub-region of Herault, just north of Picpoul de Pinet. This wine received a Wine Spectator 90 score, and it was big and burly on the nose, with herbal garrigue and black pepper notes. On the palate I got hints of Kalamata olives and eucalyptus with a red licorice background. Here is a wine to pair with lamb or grilled meats!

The most popular wine of the day was the Domaine L’Ostal Cazes Estibals Minervois 2011: 60% Syrah, 20% Carignan and 20% Grenache. Being a little farther west, Minervois reds tend to use a higher proportion of Carignan (called Carinena in nearby Spain) giving a mineral complexity that is very distinctive to this famous appellation. Black cherry and black pepper jumped out of my glass, opening up to cassis and a hint of caramel, framed with rustic earthiness. Full-flavored and dry, yet ripe and juicy, this wine received an 89 from Wine Spectator, and we agreed. This was the wine I wanted to take home and have with some grilled steaks and vegetables.

The last wine was from the largest appellation of the Languedoc, Corbieres, made by Gerard Bertrand. Composed of the more classical Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, this red was softer, with plums and berries, but still had great complexity, garrigue and anise, and an 88 score from Wine Spectator. That’s what one gets in the Languedoc, great quality for great value. Four of the wines were under $15 per bottle, with excellent scores. Also warmer climate wines tend to be more refreshing when the temperatures are high, so look to Mediterranean reds as good summer red options, rather than Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon. You still get plenty of richness and complexity but you also get lighter tannins and softer acids to stop you from sweating over your glass. Please look for similar free ABC tastings in your area. You’ll be glad you came, and we always enjoy a little educating.

Daniel Eddy

Gainesville Wine Consultant for ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

Wine Pairing Examiner for Examiner.com

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinedane