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

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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. Continue reading →