Dear Rene,
It's happened-- the
Wine Advocate's reviewer visited the excellent Domaine Coston in
France's Languedoc region and reported on how great the wines are. This one, the value-priced 2010 Terrasses du Larzac, earned a 91 point rating. Now this tiny and brilliant organic estate is bordering on "cult" status. For the record, you heard about how good Domaine Coston is from Arrowine first! Our customers have been enjoying this outstanding Languedoc red since the 2003 vintage when we were the first in the U.S. to offer it. Even then, we predicted fame and glory for this tiny estate-- one taste and you could tell the wine is special and our customers' comments over the years have confirmed this. The 2010 is great and at as little as $13.99 per bottle (the lowest price in the U.S.A. and unchanged previous vintages) this is going to fly.
It's wines like this that are the reason you should pay attention to the Languedoc. It's grown right, made right, and priced right. They have old vines (many 50+ years of age) with extremely deep roots that yield grapes with extremely concentrated flavor. They have tiny yields... much of the Languedoc has yields over 100 hl/ha, most of the top AOC areas are around 50 hl/ha, the terrific Terrasses du Larzac zone allows 45 hl/ha, but Coston picks at under 30 hl/ha. There is no other way to get this combination of concentration, purity, and texture. This estate's grapes are entirely grown by labor-intensive but higher-quality organic vineyard practices and their wines are certified organic by Ecocert. At as little as $13.99 per bottle, you'll be getting more flavor, texture, purity, persistence and quality than you'd ever expect.
Also, be sure to keep reading to see the outstanding selections in Perry's "Tuesday Boucher" feature.
Doug Rosen
| 2010 Domaine Coston "Terrasses du Larzac" | |
| 2010 Domaine Coston "Terrasses du Larzac" (Languedoc, France) | |
Reg. $17.99
Sale: Buy 6 bottles at just $15.99 per bottle
Case Sale: Buy 12 or more bottles at just $13.99 per bottle
We first offered this estate-bottled red wine with the 2003 vintage and our customers loved it though nobody else in the country had heard of this estate. The 2010 is even better and now it's been acclaimed in the Wine Advocate with a 91 point review and people all around the country are looking for it. Our best sale price, though, has not changed one cent from the 2003 vintage.
This comes from the famous "Terrasses du Larzac" zone in the best part of the Languedoc. North and west of Montpellier, this is the sub-region where many of the giant Languedoc region's best, highest scoring, and most expensive wines are grown. Some of Domaine Coston's vines can be seen in the movie "Mondovino" in the scene where Robert Mondavi is trying to purchase an exceptional and remote parcel of land in the Languedoc that he coveted (a French government agricultural agency blocked the sale). This top quality parcel is now part of Domaine Coston and is planted to syrah and grenache.
Domaine Coston's vineyards are so well cared for, healthy and clean that they don't require any chemicals and have been certified organic by Ecocert. Each parcel and grape variety is picked by hand (so only perfect clusters can be selected) and vinified separately by Philippe Coston, who made wine for two vintages at the famous Domaine Brusset in the Rhone.
Sale: Buy 6 bottles at just $15.99 per bottle
Case Sale: Buy 12 or more bottles at just $13.99 per bottle
We first offered this estate-bottled red wine with the 2003 vintage and our customers loved it though nobody else in the country had heard of this estate. The 2010 is even better and now it's been acclaimed in the Wine Advocate with a 91 point review and people all around the country are looking for it. Our best sale price, though, has not changed one cent from the 2003 vintage.
This comes from the famous "Terrasses du Larzac" zone in the best part of the Languedoc. North and west of Montpellier, this is the sub-region where many of the giant Languedoc region's best, highest scoring, and most expensive wines are grown. Some of Domaine Coston's vines can be seen in the movie "Mondovino" in the scene where Robert Mondavi is trying to purchase an exceptional and remote parcel of land in the Languedoc that he coveted (a French government agricultural agency blocked the sale). This top quality parcel is now part of Domaine Coston and is planted to syrah and grenache.
Domaine Coston's vineyards are so well cared for, healthy and clean that they don't require any chemicals and have been certified organic by Ecocert. Each parcel and grape variety is picked by hand (so only perfect clusters can be selected) and vinified separately by Philippe Coston, who made wine for two vintages at the famous Domaine Brusset in the Rhone.
The 2010 "Terrasses du Larzac" is a blend of 30% grenache, 30% syrah, 30% carignan, and 10% mourvèdre, all from old vines. The wonderfully ripe and concentrated grapes
were vinified entirely in stainless steel tanks with both pump-overs
and punch-downs to gently extract the deep color, full flavor, and
fragrant aromas of the grapes. The result is an impressive wine and a remarkable bargain.
Here's more on this wine and this producer from the Wine Advocate, including the tasting note from reviewer David Schildknect:
"From 30% each of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, with 10% Mourvedre; entirely tank-raised; and assembled at the end of the winter after having been fermented parcel-by-parcel, Coston's 2010 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac had just been bottled when I tasted it, but showed no signs of shock, only of offering shockingly good value (given that its price is scarcely likely to differ dramatically from that of its 2008 and 2009 predecessors). A winsome nose of cassis, black raspberry, cherry, heliotrope, and iris leads to a polished, juicy palate whose fresh fruit intensity is underlain and complimented by dark chocolate and roasted red meat pan drippings. Black tea smokiness, piquancy of cherry pit, and mouthwatering salinity add to the stimulation of a long, vibrant finish. I suspect this will continue to perform impressively for another 4-5 years. 91 points. Outstanding."
"The Puechabon-based domaine of Joseph and Marie-Therese Coston revealed itself on the occasion of my April visit to be one of this justly-renowned sector's most exciting if as yet largely unheralded source of excellence as well as of exceptional value. The fifth generation took over this estate in 1999 and immediately commenced a conversion to organic (eventually biodynamic) viticulture; a radical update of their cellar; and gradual expansion, of which the most significant - nearly 60 unplanted acres around Aniane (including some of those on which Robert Mondavi once famously had designs) - came only last year, so that in multiple respects one can safely predict that the best from Domaine Coston is yet to come. A Thomas Calder Selection."
Though this is priced like many generic Cotes du Rhones, it has far greater purity, concentration, complexity, and elegance. It is seriously under-priced, a situation that virtually guarantees it will sell out and many of us will be left wishing we had more. Order soon and be sure you get enough to last until the 2011 is released!
To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, Wednesday January 18th.
Thank you for reading.
Jim Cutts
Here's more on this wine and this producer from the Wine Advocate, including the tasting note from reviewer David Schildknect:
"From 30% each of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, with 10% Mourvedre; entirely tank-raised; and assembled at the end of the winter after having been fermented parcel-by-parcel, Coston's 2010 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac had just been bottled when I tasted it, but showed no signs of shock, only of offering shockingly good value (given that its price is scarcely likely to differ dramatically from that of its 2008 and 2009 predecessors). A winsome nose of cassis, black raspberry, cherry, heliotrope, and iris leads to a polished, juicy palate whose fresh fruit intensity is underlain and complimented by dark chocolate and roasted red meat pan drippings. Black tea smokiness, piquancy of cherry pit, and mouthwatering salinity add to the stimulation of a long, vibrant finish. I suspect this will continue to perform impressively for another 4-5 years. 91 points. Outstanding."
"The Puechabon-based domaine of Joseph and Marie-Therese Coston revealed itself on the occasion of my April visit to be one of this justly-renowned sector's most exciting if as yet largely unheralded source of excellence as well as of exceptional value. The fifth generation took over this estate in 1999 and immediately commenced a conversion to organic (eventually biodynamic) viticulture; a radical update of their cellar; and gradual expansion, of which the most significant - nearly 60 unplanted acres around Aniane (including some of those on which Robert Mondavi once famously had designs) - came only last year, so that in multiple respects one can safely predict that the best from Domaine Coston is yet to come. A Thomas Calder Selection."
Though this is priced like many generic Cotes du Rhones, it has far greater purity, concentration, complexity, and elegance. It is seriously under-priced, a situation that virtually guarantees it will sell out and many of us will be left wishing we had more. Order soon and be sure you get enough to last until the 2011 is released!
To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. Wine arrives tomorrow, Wednesday January 18th.
Thank you for reading.
Jim Cutts
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