Comments on: Three French reds under $10: Montirius, Heretiques, Fenouillet

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:52:19 +0000

@katie I’m glad you like the steenky nose too!

@MrTaz – Unfortunately I don’t have a long history with the wine. But I believe the winemaker died after the 06 vintage. (Maybe the new generation will put this wine in a box?) I had the 06 Chateau D’Oupia and thought it was a great value, and more rewarding wine at $12. But I didn’t have the 06 Heretiques.

By: MrTaz

MrTaz — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:32:36 +0000

I was also a big fan of the Les Heretiques after drinking one bottle, and then stocking up on the ’05. Such an intense, interesting wine. Then I was disappointed by the ’06, which I found to be unexciting, with far less “oomph”.

Tyler, how would you compare the ’07?

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:30:37 +0000

I have been lauding Les Heretiques for years. It’s one of my favorite weekday wines and I always have plenty on hand. That “bretty barnyard thing” you mention is one of its allures! I can’t say enough about it. FYI, as far as availability in NYC I’ve also bought it at the Chelsea Wine Vault in the Chelsea Market.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:30:46 +0000

I’m particularly impressed by the thought put behind the label concept on Les Heretiques:

“Les Heretiques commemorates the massacre of Minereve in 1208. Inhabited by members of the Cathari religious order, a pacifist Christian, non-conformist group that prospered during the Middle Ages, the destruction in Minereve was only one of the many Crusades led by the Roman Catholic Church, who, calling the Cathari “heretics,” persecuted them in town after town. The Cathars’ story, one of the unquenchable spirit of man, juxtaposed with the inhumanity of man, imparts new significance on Languedoc’s ruined towers and castles, some sitting high and seemingly inaccessible, on mountaintops.”

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:05:25 +0000

@Christy, yes, desperate times generally do call for obscure grapes!

@Joe yes perhaps not. But I liked it the least of these three. Unfortunately the Montirius does not appear to be easy to find (I recycled the bottle before I noted the importer); I bought this one at Appellation Wine & Spirits. The others I picked up at a one day, -15% off Languedoc wines from Astor (is the Vaucluse really considered part of Languedoc?).

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:48:20 +0000

Hmmm, not sure the winemaker would take “ballast” as a compliment….an interesting tour of obscure VdPs – are these easy to find in NYC?

By: Christy

Christy — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:05:51 +0000

Marcelan? Marcelan! Yesterday I saw it on a bottle and asked “where’s that?” Today another example pops up on your blog. Tomorrow – perhaps we’ll see it on Oprah? I guess desperate times call for obscure wines! My general assessment sounds similar to yours: none too shabby for the price.