“I’m always game for another good Minervois,
and this is very good Minervois indeed.”

Click image to enlarge.

Minervois isn’t exactly a household name, even in the world of wine. As I said in my last report, “It’s off-the-beaten-path wines and wineries like this that keep my interest and add excitement these days,” and Minervois is certainly off the beaten path. Located in the western Languedoc region of France, Minervois is known for producing red and rosé wines, derived mainly from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignane.

My appreciation for Minervois began with Chateau d’Oupia, going back to at least their 1995 bottling. I loved a certain black olive component that characterized successive vintages, and we went through a lot of the stuff. It’s been a while since I’ve had anything from this producer, because I just don’t see it around the Detroit market these days. I DID find this one last week on the shelf at Westborn Market in Berkley, and was reminded that I had enjoyed it sometime in the past, but couldn’t place it. A quick search on the old Gang of Pour site took me right to a post from 2009, and it’s clear why I have favorable, if somewhat vague, memories. The wine was very good then, and it’s very good now.

2020 Chateau Coupe-Roses La Bastide Minervois, 48% Carignane, 46% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 13.5% alc., $17.99: A substantial, well-proportioned red, deep and dark, but by no means monolithic. There’s a subtle floral note to the black fruit nose, and the flavors echo and expand with an earthy black plum and black currant personality, accented with a hint of black olive. Well-structured, but not so tannic that you can’t drink it now. I like it already, but it’ll get better with at least a few years in the cellar. This just might be the big red you’re looking for, either this winter or a little further on down the road. Find this wine

For the record, this qualifies as a Red Wings and Red Rhones kinda wine, being composed of three Rhone varieties. I’m always game for another good Minervois, and this is very good Minervois indeed.

Imported by Vintage ’59 Imports, Washington, DC

Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo

Home | Tasting Notes