Reds with character
powerful aromas, aristocratic, some of which are aged in oak casks and should be aerated in a carafe before serving.
Which AOC?
Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Corbières, Faugères, etc.
Which Pays d'Oc wines?
• Cabernet-Sauvignon: wine expressing a rich, fruity bouquet, with spicy, barely smoky notes. Revealing light tannic notes typical of Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Pinot Noir: deep red colour, a powerful wine with spicy, cocoa notes of high aromatic intensity.
• Syrah: a wine of great aromatic complexity (violet, blackcurrant, etc.), spicy notes.
• Merlot-Grenache: characteristic nose, fresh initial taste with liquorice balance.
Wines from which area?
Vin de Pays de la Cité de Carcassonne, vin de Pays des Côtes de Thongue, Vin de pays des Coteaux du Libron etc.
HARMONIES → Roast meats, blue cheeses as Bleu de Causse, mixed salads (foie gras), a gardianne beef stew, braised beef, jugged game, barbecued meat, chocolate desserts, etc.
Fruity reds
rich and supple, these red wines express aromas of violets, cherries or sweet liquorice.
Which AOC?
Languedoc, Côtes du Roussillon, Saint Saturnin “vin d’une nuit”, Pic saint Loup, etc.
Which Pays d'Oc wines?
- Syrah rouge and grenache: a light, fruity wine with red fruit notes (blackcurrant, raspberry)
- Merlot: a supple, fruity, elegant wine with black fruit aromas
- Carignan: shiny, garnet-red wine with blackcurrant and red fruit aromas, very fresh to the taste.
Wines from which area?
Vin de Pays de l’Hérault, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Miramont, Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Peyrac etc.
HARMONIES → Light salads (languedocienne), grilled meats with herbs, pies (seafood), tielles sétoises, ratatouille, chicken with olives, terrines, pâtés, lamb, conserve of duck, red meat with beans, offal, medium-matured cheeses as Pelardon etc.
Helpful hint
How do you remove a red wine stain? On cotton, you can pour a little white wine or sparkling water over it. On table linen just plunge the stained area into boiling milk.
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