I have about a 20% success rate with South France over 10, so didn’t have much hope for this orphan but the price prohibited not trying. And it’s not terrible. Kinda soapy in the nose, a rich, dark cherry elixir muddled down into an emulsion of acid. Briar and herb present themselves nicely, and alcohol reeks out in a drrrrty, dusty way.
The mouthfeel is shockingly acidic, burning taste-bud blisters before a wash of concentrated raspberry follows along with granular tartness and simple tannin. Bricking a bit, but actually pretty good. No chub at all other than France Sud’s characteristic thud of ripe fruit. Feels almost kinda Paso-y, but Paso could never make this wine. The tourists would REVOLT at “13-oh”. And how well it has held up speaks tomes against California. Oh yeah… and even before the clearance price it was 1/4 anything in California.
2011 BONFILS FAMILY ESTATES ‘Sud Sauvage’ SY/GR 55/45 Languedoc AOC 13.0
Stephen McConnell 