Forgive the bottle shot, but this wine’s for drinking.

You don’t see a lot of the wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in Australia and there are few parts of France that I don’t enjoy, so I was pleased to be given the opportunity to taste a number of them from négociant house Calmel & Joseph via their local importer, Bordeaux Shippers.  This particular wine is a bargain from Faugères, a reliable appellation in the foothills to the south of the Orb river north of Béziers and west of Montepellier in the far south of France.  The reds from here are mostly carignan, syrah, mourvedre, grenache and combinations thereof.   This particular wine is a blend of 50% syrah, 30% grenache and the balance carignan.  The result is an attractive bouquet of plums, spice, pepper, cut lavender bush and leather from the carignan.  The palate is a balanced and savoury impression of blackcurrants, plums, soft spices, pepper and deli meats.  The length is towards long.  A big tick for $18.  Very Good

Abv: 14%
Price: $18
Source: sample
Vendors: http://www.bordeauxshippers.com.au/
Website: http://www.calmel-joseph.com
Tasted: 2014