Cuvee Valentin Duc

Bought at the Caveau de Schist just outside Laurens. In truth, it is unremarkable. It has that cooked pear edge I associate with many a Languedoc white (Picopoul de Pinet being a notable exception): not a flavour I enjoy.

I'm any case, I Had all but forgotten I'd brought this back with me until I saw it's red counterpart on the list at La Grillade for 'only' £22. It was fantastic: just the right mixture of earthy fruit to go with the Chateaubriand.

I see today's mailing from the Wine Society has a big feature on The Languedoc but there's no mention of Faugères...

Domaine de l' Arjolle

A claret-like blend (Cabernet Saugivnon-Merlot) from near Pezenas (Cotes de Thongue - there are seemegly no restrictions on grapes variety here?). This certainly had more of a Bordeaux/Stellenbosch feel to it than a classic Languedoc. At £7.50 (WS) it invites comparison with Chateau Canada. It has a decent amount of cedar-mess and leathery-ness and some accessible fruit up front. It seems good value to me. Could this, together with areas like Stellenbosch, be arguments against the influence terroir? Perhaps you can only scale the heights of the claret experience in Bordeaux but others certainly seem to be going well in the foothills.....