Domaine Faillenc Sainte‑Marie is a small property, with eight hectares of vineyards stubbornly clinging to the rocky foothills of Mont Alaric near Douzens, Corbières, Languedoc, France. The terroir is that of inhospitable, rocky limestone terraces, buffeted by the northwesterly Tramontane wind or the southerly Autan breezes coming off the nearby Mediterranean. Only olive trees, scraggly brush and, yes, grapevines survive under the harsh, dry conditions. Yields are naturally low. The harvest is only partially destemmed before going into the fermentation tanks. The different cépages are fermented together and benefit from a long maceration period to extract the maximum of flavor. The resulting wine is, well, not necessarily for those who prefer them more straight of lace. Importer Neil Rosenthal says "this is a wine with enormous character" and that, in our estimation, is putting it way mildly. Produce of about 1⁄3 each Grenache, Syrah and Carignane fruit: deep, almost opaque ruby at the core in color with inviting if primary and feral aromas that would recall ripening grapes hovering above a limestone rich vineyard floor, just cracked black pepper and not so subtle suggestion of wild berries black and blue, bramble and a certain fleshy fruit quality; quite rich on entry and then noticeably building in power and intensity of flavor — warming, satisfying, stony intensity of flavor; one might reasonably wish for a long winter with a glass or few or a case or two of this in front; even Lucinda was impressed: 'if someone wants a bold red wine … ' yeah, this is it. Serve it up with a whole spread of foods like charcouterie, olives, strong cheeses alongside fall and winter greens in extra virgin olive oil with garlic, cassoulets, heady fall/winter stews, and more.

Produce of 100% Piquepoul Blanc — a very popular, traditional local variety — this wine is sourced from vineyards planted on sun-drenched «costières» (broad hillside terraces) in the Mediterranean garrigue near the Etang de Thau, a salt lagoon also home to oyster farming and situated between the port of Sète and Marseillan in the south of France. The garrigue is the name given to open scrubland made up of low-growing, dwarf bushy shrubs including holm oak, juniper, broom and wild herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage which are held to inform the aromatics and flavors of the wines produced here. Vivid platinum/yellow in color with ultra-fresh aromas suggestive of a whole panoply of orchard fruits (Andrea particularly noted pear and apple) and fresh stone fruits like peach and apricot, citrus and the subtle scent of moist limestone and salt sea salinity; at once, supple in texture (Lucinda noted a certain 'creaminess'), fresh and vibrant on the tongue with crisp acidity and tangy salinity stirring the salivary glands and so suggesting another pull. And so it goes …

From clay and limestone soils of the Saint-Hilaire Vineyard in the Languedoc, near Limoux and in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains. Granted one doesn't normally look for such south of Burgundy in France, but here, because of the elevation and the cooling Mistral and Tramontane winds, it is possible to produce Pinot Noir with its aromatic profile wholly recognizable and its typically silky palate feel intact. Aromas offer immediate suggestion of ripe cherry and bramble and stony earth; silky and delicate on the tongue, medium in body, then warm and gently embracing, but with nerve and freshness and length of delicate flavor, and light and airy enough to take that second glass. This is a stunning value at its price.

The Château des Crès Ricards Estate was established in 1960 in the village of Ceyras (32 km from the coast of the Mediterranean sea). Fifty years later, Jean-Claude Mas acquired these 28 hectares. Jean-Claude was so fascinated by the terroir of the Terrasses du Larzac that he expanded the estate to 42 hectares in 2013. This sub-appellation of the Languedoc is known for its intensely flavorful and silky wines. Chateau des Crès Ricards is situated at the foot of the Mont Saint-Baudille in the southern foothills of the Massif Central. This superb Languedoc rouge is produce of 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 15% Carignan vines planted to soils of limestone and clay, with more pebble-rich soils on the steep, terraced vineyards. Just less than half of the blend is aged in oak barrels for 8 months, the remaining portion in stainless steel vats. Gorgeous deep ruby red in color with alluring aromas redolent of happy grapes from happy vines planted to superb winegrowing soils only a short distance from the Mediterranean (this wine taster would like to be there about now); there's a bit of bramble and a touch of garrigue with some aeration; potent and engaging on the tongue with warmth and power and generosity to spare, then with fine ripe chalky tannins and a certain minerality carrying a long flavorful reprise of everything that has come before. Mais, oc!