Les Obriers de la Peira, wine of the year?
Posted on December 1st, 2010
Saved in Red wine, Sour Grapes recommends, €15-€20
This week, I cracked open the Les Obriers de la Peira from an appellation called Terrasses du Larzac in the Languedoc.
Gary Gubbins, founder and owner of Red Nose Wine in Clonmel has a penchant for the Languedoc. In addition to his knowledge of the deep south of France, he has an uncanny ability to pick real gems from an area that is known, at least in recent history, for its co-ops and “bulk wine”. The area produces massive volumes of wine.
Anyway, why does the Les Obriers de la Peira get a look in for wine of the year? Let’s take a step back to see what I look for in a wine. It’s really too things
- The first thing is freshness. Does the wine feel and taste refreshing?
- Is it balanced? Another way of looking at this is to ask if anything sticks out (badly). Is there too much tartness, is it too jammy, is there too much spiciness or heat at the end? Is there too much oak or too much of anything else? Does it leave the mouth too dry?
I also look at other things like grape typicity and some other good stuff, but the above are my main “benchmarking” criteria. Everyone will do this kind of thing subconsciously, in subseconds, if they’re paying a little attention to the wine. However, sometimes sine tasting can be different to wine drinking so I just as often don’t pay much attention to a wine I’m drinking as to when I’m tasting.
Anyway, I’m in danger of getting very longwinded. Whether you’re tasting or drinking, paying attention or not paying that much attention, I reckon the Les Obriers de la Peira will blow your socks off and set a new benchmark for what wines from the Languedoc can taste like. For me, the freshness was out of this world. There’s amazing balance, elegance and a “femininity” too, which wouldn’t classical Languedoc, if such a thing exists. You’d normally associate “femininity” i.e. delicate, scented, and fresh with Margaux or some Burgundy appellations, but let’s not get too bogged down.
Oh, and the details.
So, if you’re still reading (thanks, Mum), the grapes which go into this exquisite wine are:
- Syrah
- Grenache
- Mourvèdre
- Viognier
- Roussanne
- Cinsault
- Carignan
Gorgeous aromas of rosemary, thyme, lavender, eucalyptus leading onto a gorgeous taste of red bramble berries and refreshing touch of mint. The texture is amazing, the freshness and balance. Wow.
A wine for our generation
A previous generation could have sampled some of the best Bordeaux had to offer. Thanks to crazy en primeur campaigns and the new demands in the east, we don’t get to sniff them, let alone buy them. If the Languedoc were ever to be ever classified as the left bank of Bordeaux was in 1855, then I’d put my neck out and say that Les Obriers de la Peira would be in the “first growths”, the top tier.
It’s an exquisite, “luxury” wine and one that everyone should try, at least once.
Get more details and buy it from rednosewine.com
eh, actually they did recently classify some regions of Languedoc as grand cru and they are: Minervois La Livinière, Corbières Boutenac, Grès de Montpellier, Pic Saint Loup, Saint Chinian Roquebrun, Pézenas, Terrasses du Larzac, La Clape and still wines from Limoux.
So, this wine does come from one of those regions. They didn’t designate individual properties though.
Drove through this area recently and some amazing old vineyards in volcanic and rocky soils. Hard to believe it was ever not considered an amazing place for vines.
Wow Lar
Thanks very much. I got a tip off to visit this vineyard earlier this year and finally got there in July. The vineyard is impossible to find and I had to meet the winemaker in the nearby village St Sauternin. 10 dirt roads later we arrived at the cave and the vines. well worth it though.
I didn’t discover this piece of magic – another Gary ( of the Veyderchuck ) gave La Peira ( the main wine ) 99 points and called it the next icon wine. A certain Mr Parker also raved as did Jancis. I had to beg for a few cases from Jeremie.
I can’t wait for you to taste Las Flors ( next step up ) which was the only bottle i smuggled home in my RyanAir suitcase from the trip. This was my wine of the last 2 years.
If you can make it to CLonmel on Dec 9th, we will have the big boy itself, La Peira open. probably needs another 10-15yrs to develop ,but hey.. its Christmas.
Thanks for tasting them… I really love this vineyard.
Gary
Hi Martin, I know, maybe they’ll classify or reclassify every few years, just like St. Emilion ;)
The Romans were there first (like most places) but I guess time will tell in terms of the Languedoc classification(s).
Many thanks Lars for taking time out to taste, drink, and to write about the wine. And to Gary as well.
The Terrasses du Larzac is a very interesting appellation (in Southern France of course) and there are a good number of producers there making truly excellent wines (at very agreeable prices in many instances.)
In case your readers were interested to discover further about the appellation I’ve attached a few links to articles below:
Andrew Jefford:
Rockyards and Stonejuice: https://www.andrewjefford.com/node/311
Terrasses du Larzac: Languedoc’s sweet spot: https://www.andrewjefford.com/node/681
World of Fine Wine – One Bottle: https://www.andrewjefford.com/node/341
Wikipedia Overview of the Terrasses du Larzac
https://www.andrewjefford.com/node/341
And another: https://www.terrasses-du-larzac.com/english/histoire.asp
Sorry Lar, an extra “S” seemed to slip in there somehow!
Thanks for the links, Rob, and don’t worry about the extra “S”, it adds a touch of mystique. Still have Las Flors to try from Gary and very much looking forward to it.
does mr rednose supply to any shops?I just want to pick up just the one bottle mr lar.
how was chile?
Just online, and from the shop in Clonmel. I’ve the next one up in the range if you’d like to open it up together…
Chile was warm!
Am hopeful to have it in Dublin, cork and Galway very soon ..,
I’m happy to slip it in one of the mix cases of 6
Just send me a mail
Gary. Ps take Lar up on offer las flors superb
We’ve just taken the three La Peira wines for listing in Curious Wines, through Gary’s generosity in opening up distribution to a broader base of consumers. This is great news for wine drinkers in Cork.
We had the Obriers open last Friday, utterly sublime, as Gary would say himself, an “Oh my god” wine.
The man’s a genius, even if he does shirk the credit for finding them ;-)