Roussillon: Domaine de la Fou, Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet

Hélène and Christian Meunier are the third generation to farm their 11 ha / 28 acre wine estate lying at 260m (850 feet) altitude on the slopes around St-Paul, in the wilder-still northwestern corner of Roussillon Villages country. These four wines were tasted at the Fenouillèdes wine show in April 2007:

2006 L'Impossible Muscat sec, vin de pays des Côtes Catalanes – fresh and crisp with grape aromas and flavours, fuller creamier palate; nice style. €7 87
2006 white barrique-fermented (barrel sample: Grenache Gris Macabeu Chardonnay) – lightly toasty with milky mouth-feel, exotic apricot fruit, full and rounded. 87
2004 La Clue, vin de pays des Côtes Catalanes (Carignan Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre) – tobacco and violet tones on top of black cherry and smoky liquorice, nice fruit v grip and fresh finish. €7 87-89
2004 Ricochet, Côtes du Roussillon Villages (Carignan Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre) – similar profile to above although lusher, tobacco edges on a sweet v savoury palate, attractive weight and power. €9 89

Chemin de Bayra (cellar), tasting/shop: 28 Avenue du 16 Août 1944, 66220 Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet. Tel/fax: 04 68 59 11 62, mobile: 06 12 54 94 07, domainedelafou@wanadoo.fr

Roussillon: Domaine Terre Rousse, Maury

Domaine Terre RousseTasters had the opportunity to try all four vintages (so far) of Serge Rousse's Côtes du Roussillon Villages reds side by side, at the 2007 edition of the Fenouillèdes wine show held in Tautavel. All 4 wines are made from approximately 40% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre; a vineyard blend "that matches my cuverie perfectly... each vintage I've been aiming for more fruit and less wood." Nice to hear that coming from a Bordelais, and judging by my notes below, I agree wholeheartedly this is the way to go. There are already too many Roussillon reds swamped in flashy new oak with the same flavour and texture!
2006 (cask sample) – lovely juicy black cherry fruit, pretty firm tannins yet rounded with fresh length. Will be good... as long as he doesn't leave it too long in barrel! 89
2005 – again delicious fruit and style, liquorice with very light leather tones; attractive bite and balance with 'sweet' v dry texture and subtle lingering flavour. 90-92
2004 – lightly toasted and a little baked, richer and firmer palate than expected with chocolate notes; prefer the 2005 and 2006. 85-87
2003 – more restrained and 'Bordeaux' in style, nicely maturing fruit v oak backdrop, more structured although has background ripe v savoury fruit. 85-87

Update: Serge has actually now sold up to a Swiss investor/winegrower/maker, whose estate is called Domaine des Enfants...

Route de Cucugnan, 66460 Maury. sergerousse@wanadoo.fr