Domaine La Sauvageonne

Made in France, owned in York!

 

 

When we first visited La Sauvageonne over 10 years ago, we were impressed by the quality of fruit in the wines, but found the wine-making to be a rather hit-and-miss affair.  However, in 2000 Fred Brown, a wealthy York property developer, recognised the potential and purchased the vineyard. Earlier he had commissioned a young Englishman, Gavin Crisfield, to find him an ideal property. 

 

 

Gavin had worked in the UK as a sommelier before training in France and the USA as a winemaker.  When he saw the white cupola of La Sauvageonne, surrounded by majestic slopes of schistic hills with their ordered rows of old vines, he knew he had hit the jackpot!

 

 

 

Video clip of the magnificent terroir on :  http://www.south-france.com/decouverte/saint-jean.htm

Domaine La Sauvageonne “Les Ruffes” 2002                                                                                    £4.95 AC Côteaux du Languedoc                                                                                                                              Made from a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 15% each of Carignan and Cinsault  this is vinified in tank. Deep in colour, it has an intriguing fruity nose with hints of mint and undergrowth.  On the palate it is full of ripe, soft damsony fruit with a hint of liquorice and soft tannin at the finish.  Perfect for current drinking.  Available for £5.99 from Noel Young wines!

Domaine La Sauvageonne “Pica Broca” 2002                                                                                     £6.95 AC Côteaux du Languedoc                                                                                                                                  From an adjacent but higher altitude vineyard site with lower yielding vines, this is made from 50% Syrah,35% Grenache and 15% Carignan.  A quarter is then aged in tank and three quarters in new barriques.  An even deeper wine, this has subtle hints of oak on the nose, leading into a marvellous concentrated mouthful of ripe, silky fruit with soft ripe tannins and a hint of underlying minerality.  Tremendous now but with the potential for another five years ageing. It is a Malcolm Gluck recommended buy from Virgin online for £9.99!

Domaine La Sauvageonne “Puech du Glen” 2002                                                                           £13.50  AC Côteaux du Languedoc                                                                                                                                 This truly amazing flagship wine is the deepest of the three, and is made from 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache,but with even lower yields only 15hl/ha, then aged in 70% new oak.  The nose is brooding and subtly perfumed with hints of prunes, mint and the garrigue.  An opulent wine, there is an explosion of flavours on the palate – blackberry, prunes, liquorice – all supported by firm, ripe tannins.  Winner of Wine Magazine’s recent Côteaux du Languedoc Tasting, this is available elsewhere for £15.99!  Will keep for 10 years, but fantastic now – a wine for special occasions!