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Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair, Vin de Pays, Picpoul de Pinet
Jean Louis Fougeray
Jean Louis Fougeray is a Burgundian with a passion for terroir. Having purchased some vineyard land around the commune of Pinet, near the Bassin de Thau, he has spent much of the last two years commuting almost weekly between Burgundy and the Languedoc, camping out in a caravan whilst his cellars and house are constructed, and producing experimental cuvées to select the best slopes and soil types for his Languedoc wines. He rented a cellar in Villeveyrac whilst waiting for his own cellar to be constructed, and as this is outside the Appellation area for Picpoul de Pinet, his first wines were only entitled to “Coteaux du Languedoc”, and not “Picpoul de Pinet”. We have selected three of his cuvées, which we feel are offer excellent value for money.
The Cépage d’Antun is 100% Terret Bourret, a variety which has been grown in the Languedoc for many years, and produces excellent quality wines on the slopes around the Thau Basin, where the relatively fresh maritime climate, and the limestone clay soil, are particularly suitable. The grapes were picked in the cool of the early morning, de-stemmed and macerated for 14 hours before pressing, and low temperature fermentation. This is a soft floral grapey dry white, with hints of The
Coteaux du Languedoc Piquepoul, from the Picpoul variety, was grown within the “Picpoul de Pinet” appellation, but was vinified just outside the defined area, and so does not qualify for the Picpoul de Pinet AC. As an experiment, the wine was vinified in demi-muids, large wood barrels, to give a more “burgundian” feel to the wine. Creamy, honeyed and buttery, but dry, and with good balancing acidity.
The Val Grieux, La Croix de Soupié, is from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown on slopes in the foothills of the Cévennes, at around 100 feet above sea level. The grapes are de-stemmed, and are matured in 600 litre French oak barrels for one year. This is the most “burgundian” cabernet sauvignon we have tasted. Soft, spicy, gentle and elegant, with supple fruit, and a seductive velvety roundness. |