La Pèira and Gauby’s Muntada the top Languedoc-Roussillion Wines in Jeb Dunnuck’s The Rhone Report

While Montpellier may have lost against Olympique de Marseille in the Coupe de la Ligue final last week, we were somewhat consoled by the fact the La Pèira wines put in a good showing for the Herault in the latest issue of Jeb Dunnuck’s The Rhone Report – the quarterly newsletter covering the wines and grapes of the Rhône Valley and elsewhere.

The La Pèira 2007 was judged the top red of the Languedoc-Roussillion – alongside Gauby’s Muntada 2007 – in a field of fine players such as Grange de Peres, Clos Marie, Mas Jullien, Montcalmes, Clos de Truffiers, and L’Oustal Blanc and others.

More about Issue 7 of The Rhone Report and Jeb’s La Pèira notes below.

The Rhone Report: La Pèira notes

“this estate continues to produce world class wines that show not only plenty of distinctive character, but a level of polish and refinement that isn’t often found – from anywhere”

“Easily one of the top wines of the region (and I’ll gladly include all of the southern Rhône in that comparison)”

La Pèira 2007: cited alongside Gauby Muntada 2007 as the top wines of the Languedoc-Roussillion

Located north of the Hérault (which is a good 60km off the Mediterranean), on the southern edge of the Massif Central, and in the town of Saint Saturnin de Lucian, this estate continues to produce world class wines that show not only plenty of distinctive character, but a level of polish and refinement that isn’t often found – from anywhere. While the region as a whole has warmer, longer summers, as well as cooler winters, it also has drastic daily temperature swings due its distance from the Sea. Website: www.la-peira.com  Importer: Eric Solomon

La Pèira Terrasses du Larzac La Pèira                             Red        98
La Pèira Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors de La Pèira          Red        93
La Pèira Terrasses du Larzac Obriers  de La Pèira           Red        91

2007 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac) $125
Utterly captivating and borderline perfection in a glass, the 2007 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac is the estate’s top cuvee and is a blend of 68% Syrah and 32% Grenache, from the Bois de Pauliau vineyard, that’s aged for 18 months in French oak. It displays a vivid purple color to go with intense, decadent aromas of sweet crème de cassis and blackberry styled fruits, smoked meats, exotic spice, violets, and perfectly integrated wood on the nose. While ripe and leaning towards the decadent end of the spectrum, the wine shows unbelievable purity, focus, and freshness as well as not a hint of heat, over-ripeness, or weight. Full bodied and lavishly textured on the palate, with the same lightness and elegance that’s promised by the nose, the wine shows perfect balance, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, perfectly ripe fruit, and a blockbuster finish that’s laced with loads of ultra-fine tannin. Few wines can pull off such a mix of ripeness, polish, and balance, and this one does it with style! I don‟t doubt that this will age gracefully, but given the utter seamlessness and polish displayed, don’t be afraid to drink this young. Easily one of the top wines of the region (and I’ll gladly include all of the southern Rhône in that comparison) and this is not to be missed! (98 pts.)

2007 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac)
$40
Richer and heavier than the top cuvee, the 2007 Las Flors, a blend of 37% Syrah, 47% Grenache, and 16% Mourvèdre that’s aged for 18 months in French oak, sports an inky, opaque color to go with full throttle aromatics of baked plums and cassis fruits, licorice, roast coffee, and charred earth. It improves over the evening with touches of garrigue, violets, and spice emerging, lending additional freshness and complexity to what would otherwise be a very dense, impenetrable wine. Full bodied on the palate and beautifully put together, with a palate staining, decadent texture, solid balance, and a bitter chocolate-laced, tannic finish, this is actually less approachable than the Les Terrasses du Larzac and needs cellaring. My guess is that this will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle, and then drink well for a decade afterwards. I may have liked this even more if I had not tasted it right next to the straight ’07 Les Terrasses du Larzac. (93 pts.)

2008 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Les Obriers de La Pèira (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac)
$20
Silky and perfumed, with an understated elegance about it that’s similar to a north Rhône Syrah, the 2008 La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Les Obriers de La Pèira is a barrel aged blend of 59% Cinsualt and 41% Carignan that’s all from the gravel and limestone soils of the Bellefeuille vineyard. It shows captivating aromatics of freshly snipped flowers, damp earth, iron, and mineral like notes that are supported by fresh raspberry and pit fruits. The wine follows suite on the palate and displays a medium bodied, energetic texture, beautiful integration of the acid, tannin, and fruit, and a clean, excellent finish. It’s not a powerhouse and shines for its balance, purity, and energy. While I would drink it over the coming 2-4 years, this could surprise and age well. Time will tell. (91 pts.)

The Rhone Report ISSUE #7

Jeb Dunnuck’s subscription-based The Rhone Report (around $60 year – $5 monthly) newsletter is published quarterly and dedicated to the wines of the Rhone and Rhone wines worldwide.
The latest issue focuses on the Languedoc Roussillon, Southern Rhône & Provence,  Northern Rhône, Spain, and 1998 & 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Jeb  Dunnuck’s (pictured above) The Rhone Report website is here. Reviews and Images above © 2011 — therhonereport.com (unless otherwise credited.)

Domaines featured:

LANGUEDOC ROUSSILLON   Borie La Vitarèle, Château Bolchet, Château Condamine Bertrand, Château d’Or et de Gueules, Château d’Oupia, Château de la Négly, Château de la Tuilerie , Château de Lancyre, Château de Mattes-Sabran, Château de Peña, Château du Donjon, Château Font-Mars, Château Fontanes, Château l’Ermitage, Château La Baronne, Château La Roque, Château Mourgues du Gres, Château Puech-Haut, Château Rigaud, Château Saint-Baulery, Château Saint-Roch, Château St. Jean de la Gineste, Cinquante-Cinq, Clos des Truffiers, Clos Marie, Clot de l’Oum, Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot, Domaine Cabirau, Domaine d’Aupilhac, Domaine de Boède, Domaine de Fontsainte, Domaine de l’Hortus, Domaine de la Grange des Pères, Domaine de Malavieille, Domaine de Montcalmes, Domaine des 3 Vallees, Domaine du Poujol, Domaine Gauby, Domaine La Bastide, Domaine La Tour Vieille, Domaine Lafage, Domaine Léon Barral, Domaine Magellan, Domaine Monpertuis, Domaine Olivier Pithon, Domaine Puydeval, Ermitage du Pic St. Loup, L’Oustal Blanc, La Galinière, La Grange de Quatre Sous, La Pèira, Le Mas de Bertrand , M. Chapoutier, Mas Amiel, Mas Bruguiere, Mas Champart, Mas d’Auzieres, Mas Jullien, Maxime Magnon, Domaine Puig Parahÿ, Plume Bleue, Villa des Anges, Villa Symposia SOUTHERN RHÔNE & PROVENCE  Andre Goichot, Château de Beaucastel, Château de Rouanne, Château de Valcombe, Château Paradis, Château Pesquié, Commanderie de la Bargemone, Cuvée du Vatican, Domaine Albin Jacumin, Domaine Bertrand Stehelin, Domaine Boisson, Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil, Domaine de Couron, Domaine des Coteaux des Travers, Domaine des Escaravailles, Domaine des Rozets, Domaine du Trapadis, Domaine Gallety, Domaine Gramenon, Domaine Grand Veneur, Domaine La Bouissiere, Domaine La Garrigue, Domaine les Aphillanthes, Domaine les Goubert, Domaine Les Grands Bois, Domaine les Pallières, Domaine Raspail-Ay, Domaine Saint-Damien, Domaine Santa Duc, Dupéré Barrera, E. Guigal, Gabriel Meffr, H. Brunier & Fils, Kermit Lynch Selections, Les Vignerons d’Estézargues, Mas de Gourgonnier, Maxime Francois Laurent, Pierre Amadieu, Sélectionné Laurence Féraud, Tardieu-Laurent  CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE Château de Beaucastel,Château Rayas, Clos des Papes, Clos du Mont-Olivet, Clos Saint Jean, Domaine Chante Cigale, Domaine de la Mordorée, Domaine de la Solitude,  Domaine de Marcoux, Domaine du Pégaü, Domaine Grand Veneur , Domaine la Barroche, Domaine Monpertuis, Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils, Eddie Feraud, Henri Bonneau, Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel), M. Chapoutier, Roger Sabon, Tardieu-Laurent NORTHERN RHÔNE Eric & Joel Durand , Alain Voge,Domaine Auguste Clape, Domaine Coursodon, Domaine du Tunnel (Stéphane Robert), Domaine Faury,Domaine Jasmin,Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, Domaine Vincent Paris, Domaine Yves Cuilleron, E. Guigal, Gangloff, Gilles Robin, Jean-Luc Colombo, Louis Barruol, M. Chapoutier,  Saint-Cosme SPAIN Aletta, Artazuri, Bodegas Alto Almanzora, Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Bodegas Ateca / Zabrin, Bodegas Borsao, Bodegas El Nido, Bodegas Juan Gil, Bodega Los Aljibes,  Bodegas Luzon, Bodegas Nekeas, Bodegas Olivares, Bodegas San Alejandro, Campos De Luz Cariñena, Casa Castillo, Cellers Can Blau,  Clos Erasmus,  Clos Mogador,  Closa Batllet,  Clua Domenech, Espelt,  Finca Sandoval, Jiménez Landi, Mas Doix Tapena, Tarima , Valera  MISC Carmen, Bedrock Wine Co.,8, Jaffurs, L’Aventure, Lillian Winery, Sans Liege, Saxum, Pala