2013 Chateau La Roque, Coteaux du Languedoc Blanc, France.
Jacques Figuette’s Chateau La Roque is a Languedoc leader in quality and value with the talented Cyriaque Rozier making the wines from biodynamic vines grown near Pic St.-Loup. The winery was founded in 1259, but the region dates back to Roman times and the landscape here is largely unchanged, rugged and beautiful with an ancient and timeless feel, and this seems to translate into the wines and these are wines that are very much influenced by their terroir, which is a mix of clay and limestone, terraced vines and a south-southeast exposure, gathering in the Mediterranean warm, light and breezes. Rozier’s winemaking is deft and traditional with native yeasts, no malo and fermentation in mostly stainless and maybe large old cask and the raising in cement tank, this allows each wine, and grape to show through, elegant, earthy and classic. The 2013 Languedoc Blanc is bright, summery and delightful made up of Marsanne, Rolle (Vermentino), Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne this wine has loads of flavor and character. The nose is fresh with citrus, spice, wet stones and tropical leading to a zesty palate of lemon/lime, green apple, peach, bitter apricot, salty chalk, white melon and tangy herb/peppery spice. The wine is refreshing and light/medium in weight, but gains density with air and is really lovely with delicate earth and mineral notes coming through with lifting crisp acidity, turning round and pleasing on the finish, drink from 2015 to 2017.
($17 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive
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