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Domaine St Andrieu

Like so many vignerons, Charles Giner of Domaine Saint Andrieu did not come to wine via a very direct route. This is an old family estate of 25 hectares, the fruit from which was once all sold to the local co-operative. This was unlikely to change, as Giner worked in Paris for computer giant IBM. When redundancy visited Giner's door, however, he took the road south and turned his mind to making his own wine. Taking just over 4 hectares away from the co-operative, his first vintage was in 1995. The grapes cultivated here are the usual suspects, but with increasing proportions of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut and Grenache over the original Carignan. He destems and prefers a long maceration. With Rolle and Marsanne, in 1999 he added a white cuvée to his range.

Other than the white wine, the cuvées offered here are as follows. Vallongue is the basic wine, mainly Carignan, made for drinking immediately. The next wine is also dominated by Carignan - La Séranne - but from old vines. Grenache and Mourvèdre feature in Les Marnes Bleues, whereas the top cuvée is L'Yeuse Noire, a barrel-aged blend of the La Séranne and Les Marnes Bleues cuvées. (1/12/03)

Contact details:
Address: 34150 Montpeyroux
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 67 96 61 37
Fax: +33 (0) 4 67 96 63 20
Internet: www.saint-andrieu.com

Domaine St Andrieu - Tasting Notes

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Domaine St Andrieu Coteaux du Languedoc Montpeyroux 'La Séranne' 2000: Mainly Carignan here, with some Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. A good, vibrant hue, with only moderate density. Lots of character on the nose, with sweet roasted vegetables and herbs, and liquorice-edged cherry fruit. Medium weight on the palate, with plenty of bright, slightly acidic cherry fruit. Just a touch of extract, with a nice chewy texture but a balanced, smooth mouthfeel. Good roasted garrigue fruit here. Soft, integrated tannins, which nip on the finish. For current drinking. 15/20 (December 2003) Label

Domaine St Andrieu Coteaux du Languedoc Montpeyroux Les Marnes Bleues 1999: This is a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre. It's a fairly dark, not quite opaque, garnet red. The nose offers up aromas of dark, sweet, herby fruits. Rich in sweet tannins on the palate, with a savoury edge to the herby fruit. Alongside there is quite fresh, almost sharp acidity. A little bit of texture, but mainly it has grip and acid, leading to a dry finish. 15/20 (December 2003) Label