La Peira: Our Top 10 of 2008

‘Cinderella of the South’

In no particular order:

1 Bottling Poetry

Bottling poetry from 2005 and 2006 this year.

2 Presenting La Pèira

At the Saint-Emilion Primeurs (‘Autrement dit’) with Château du Cèdre, Domaine du Bouscat (the talented Francois Dubernard), La Fleur Morange, Domaine Cauhapé. Tasting with Jeffrey Davies and Thierry Desseauve. Michel Chasseuil asking to buy the first magnum of La Pèira.

3 Andrew Jefford’s One Bottle The World of Fine Wine article

Andrew Jefford’s One Bottle The World of Fine Wine article:

“So with the samples delivered to the homes of those who write about wine. All deserve a taste, most a note, but I’ve never come across one that rearranged my inner pantheon in the way that truly great wine can. Never, that is, until a few weeks ago. Then it was that a relatively ramshackle package of boxes arrived from the Languedoc containing 11 bottles and a text.”

4 Harvest 2008.

A late harvest in 2008 after a slow cool year.

5 Andrew Jefford (On the Terrasses du Larzac)

“Where is the greatest terroir in Languedoc? You could make a case for Faugères, for Pic St Loup, for parts of St Chinian, for Minervois La Livinière, maybe for La Clape, but after my trip I have to say that if you were to write me out a cheque for a million euros and tell me to go to find somewhere to make great red wine, I would look most closely of all at Terrasses du Larzac.”

6 A late afternoon glass

Of wine on the square at Montpeyroux at the La Terrasse du Mimosa. Dining with Friends at the Restaurant le Mimosa Saint Guiraud, especially with our Importer (in the land of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven) Matthias Hilse of Aux Fins Gourmets.

7 The European Cellars Odyssey

Finally reaching La Pèira after having traversed the Larzac a full five days on horseback. After, these intrepid travelers retraced Hannible’s path, crossing into the Roussillon, and then on to Priorat.*

8 Call us sentimental…

But the Lonely Planet naming the Languedoc as its 5th best destination alongside Yunnan (China), Ko Tao (Thailand), and San Andres, Providencia (Colombia).

“this Cinderella of the south was once overshadowed by gorgeous Provence and the brash Côte d’Azur. Now, she stands as their equal, displaying a discreet charm that her more-visited siblings lost long ago”

9 Obriers de la Peira 2006 reviewed by Robert Parker

And being judged (equal) best French Red (93/100) in the Wine Advocate, Issue 178 World Values:

“This estate aims to rival the great Negly for making the top wines in Languedoc, and this 2006 is their introductory offering. Falling somewhere between a great Cote Rotie and a top-notch Hermitage, it boasts a dense purple color along with a super-ripe nose of blackberries, cassis, charcoal, wood smoke, and spice. Beautifully textured, full-bodied, and opulent, it is a stunning example of what can be accomplished in this backwater appellation.”

Also, Gary Vaynerchuk’s Wine Library stating, “‘The flagship wine from this new venture is easily going to be the next great global cult wine.” wasn’t to bad either…

10 Being befriended…

by Haut-Brion on Twitter…Also welcoming David Schildknecht to La Pèira…Discovering the Valle de la Buèges…The list goes on…

Wishing you all the best as you step into 2009.

(* The names forever enscribed in La Pèira Lore: Eric Solomon, Anne Buisson, Juan Guardia, Andrew Crookes, Baron Ziegler, Emily Peterson, Anthony Pannone , Chris Blacklidge.)