Cotes du Roussillon Rouge 'Les Terrasses', Regis Boucabeille, France 2024
Cotes du Roussillon Rouge 'Les Terrasses', Regis Boucabeille, France 2024
This is one of the best bargains from the Roussillon we have tasted in a long while. Mostly Mourvedre this year with supporting roles played by Syrah, Grenache and old vine Carignan. Ample, but not hefty, and surprisingly lithe, it shows juicy black cherry and red-fleshed plums accentuated by garrigue herbs, dried bark and paprika. Impressively silky tannins for a wine at this price, suggesting some real expertise in the cellar. It finishes with a kind of smoky sweetness, if that makes any sense, as you might find with chargrilled red peppers or baked cinnamon. It would be great with a barbecue or middle eastern food. 14% alc. Drink now-2028.
Organic (certified), sustainable
Vegan
“Domaine Boucabeille is run by Jean Boucabeille, who has planted 23 ha (57 acres) of native forest around his 12-ha vineyard, built ponds and installed over 100 beehives. He doesn’t plough, to avoid damaging the microbial life in the soil, and doesn’t use machinery in the vineyard, in order to avoid soil compaction. The estate has been certified organic since 2008. Boucabeille also planted 650 cork oaks in 2016, with a view to producing their own corks, and in 2018 they installed a water-treatment plant so that wastewater from the winery can be used to irrigate the cork oaks and wash machinery. Winemaking is low intervention, with spontaneous fermentations. Boucabeille also plays the accordion. This might be considered irrelevant but for the fact that musical intelligence often goes hand in hand with a different way of thinking about and connecting things, of finding rhythms and resonance. Einstein was an accomplished violinist who used to solve some of his most difficult problems by playing the violin in the wee hours of the night. Boucabeille’s wines are four-dimensional and have heartbeat as well as incredible length, breathing the garrigue of their terroir through every sip.” - Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com
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A very decent white, which I hope damns it with just enough faint praise to keep expectations low, but high enough for you to give it a try. It’s a star-fruit-scented blend of 50% Macabeo, 25% Roussanne and 25% Grenache Blanc with white currant, citrus and honeysuckle flavours and needs to be served cold as its sole purpose is refreshment, not introspective scrutiny. We have plenty of other wines that will leave you breathless with wonder, but this isn’t one of them. Drink it with poulet et frites and an episode of ‘Call My Agent’. 13% alc. Drink now-2028.
Organic (certified), sustainable
Vegan
Press review:
Neal Martin (previous vintage) “A blend of 50% Macabeo, 25% Roussanne and 25% Grenache Blanc grown on schist soils and whole-bunch-pressed. It features wonderful citrus fruit mixed with chamomile and pressed white flowers on the nose, and the palate is beautifully balanced, quite phenolic in style, with a slight waxy texture. Wild peach and nectarine linger on the well-defined finish. Given that this was a measly 30 quid on the restaurant list, it is absolutely outstanding value.” 92 points
“Domaine Boucabeille is run by Jean Boucabeille, who has planted 23 ha (57 acres) of native forest around his 12-ha vineyard, built ponds and installed over 100 beehives. He doesn’t plough, to avoid damaging the microbial life in the soil, and doesn’t use machinery in the vineyard, in order to avoid soil compaction. The estate has been certified organic since 2008. Boucabeille also planted 650 cork oaks in 2016, with a view to producing their own corks, and in 2018 they installed a water-treatment plant so that wastewater from the winery can be used to irrigate the cork oaks and wash machinery. Winemaking is low intervention, with spontaneous fermentations. Boucabeille also plays the accordion. This might be considered irrelevant but for the fact that musical intelligence often goes hand in hand with a different way of thinking about and connecting things, of finding rhythms and resonance. Einstein was an accomplished violinist who used to solve some of his most difficult problems by playing the violin in the wee hours of the night. Boucabeille’s wines are four-dimensional and have heartbeat as well as incredible length, breathing the garrigue of their terroir through every sip.” - Tamlyn Currin for JancisRobinson.com
Brimming with southern French warmth and personality, this luscious Corbieres is a blend of Syrah and Grenache Noir aged for 14 months in French oak and offers a rich nose of dark berries, currants, liquorice, sweet woody spices and dark chocolate. Drink it with rustic dishes, like ossobuco, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin or Chinese duck with hoisin sauce. 14.5% alc. Drink now-2026.
“Fine, long, perfectly harmonious and very Languedocian.” - ‘Coup de Cœur’ in the Guide Hachette
A great expression of Syrah from the Languedoc-Roussillon, which is only made in the best vintages. The colour of dragon’s blood, it beckons you into its inky core with sweet and succulent aromas of dark-skinned forest-fruits, pummeled blackcurrants, lilac and that lovely peppery top note that you find in northern Rhone Syrah, but once you stray inside, you lose your bearings amid the sheer intensity of its dark, swirling depths and vaulted gothic arches. Approachable now, thanks to the way the fruit has saturated the tannins, but it has decades on its side. 14.5% alc. 18 months in French oak barrels. Unfined, unfiltered and with a minimal use of sulphites. Only 216 cases produced. Drink now-2035.
Press review:
Le Guide Hachette des Vins: “A strict selection of Syrah, complex vinification, partially in whole clusters, with only indigenous yeasts, then a long aging of 18 months in barrel: the result is commensurate with the efforts. Very ripe red fruits, chocolate, liquorice, all refreshed with garrigue and menthol: the nose is magnificent. Round attack, smooth texture, firm but silky tannins, discreet aging which nuances the fruit with sweet spices, remarkable length: the palate drives the point home. It's fine, long, perfectly harmonious and very Languedocian.” Awarded a Coup de Cœur
Customer comments on the 2019:
“I just wanted to let you know I tried a bottle of L’Etendoir des Fees last night and it was just as good as I remember!” - Mr C.B.
“I felt compelled to let you know that this was absolutely knock out. Seriously, seriously good.” - Mr A.W.
“Really very good.” - Mr N.M.
“This is very yummy.“ - Mr W.B.
“Stunning” - Mr C.M.
”The Syrah is absolutely delicious, excellent value for money!” - Mr. S. W.
Customer comments on the 2016:
“Great wine.” - Mr E.W.
“Wonderful”- Mr C.W.
“We drank the first bottle of the case tonight. I have straight away ordered another case.” - Mr. T.H.
”I feel compelled to let you know that I opened one of these at the weekend and from the first sip to the last Ihave to regard it as one of the most enjoyable wines I can remember having. I won’t embarrass myself by trying to describe it other than to say it was simply sensational. What a find.” - Mr. N.H.
”We have tried L’Etendoir Des Fees, delicious... just great, thanks for recommending.” - Mr. P.H.
“It's absolutely ridiculous value. Really lovely.” - Mr. H.A.
”it was beautiful!” - Mr. D.L.
”That’s a gorgeous Syrah” - Mr. F.A.
”This wine is quite delicious and special. Thank you for introducing it to me!” - Mr. P.J.