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2021 Pays d’Oc Rouge “Les Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre”
Château La Roque
There’s nothing quite like old-vine Mourvèdre from a rugged landscape to illustrate the colorful spirit of southern France. Around the imposing vertical escarpment known as the Pic Saint Loup, abundant limestone litters the vineyard floor, balmy fragrances of garrigue herbs waft through the dry Mediterranean air, and the nearby mountains bring cool breezes that temper the intense meridional heat. Mourvèdre thrives in these conditions, yielding tooth-staining reds that capture the wildness of the Languedoc countryside like no other.
La Roque’s “Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre” is consistently one of the finest values we import from any region. This chewy, bone-warming red offers thick aromas of ripe black cherry and wild brush that beg for something hearty, such as an epic roast saturated with garlic and herbs. Mourvèdre of this breed is no stranger to aging, so put a few more bottles aside and see what happens.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, 10% Grenache |
Appellation: | IGP Pays d'Oc |
Country: | France |
Region: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
Producer: | Château La Roque |
Winemaker: | Cyriaque Rozier |
Vineyard: | 50 - 60 years, 18 ha |
Soil: | Clay, limestone scree |
Aging: | Aged in demi-muids (2,3,4, and 5 years old) for 18 months, aged in bottle for 6 months |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 14.2% |
More from this Producer or Region

2023 Vin de France Rouge “Saint Jacques”
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Equal parts Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre, this boasts all of Maxime’s trademark elegance and silkiness.

2018 Vin de France “Grenache Oxydatif”
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At once similarly saline and nutty as vin jaune or sherry, but also singular and standalone in its notes of watermelon flesh and rind.

2023 Saint-Chinian Rouge “La Pierre Plantée”
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A model of lightness and drinkability for southern reds!

2020 Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Cupa Numismae”
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It’s dense, noble, with grip and grit, the kind of cuvée that could generate a lot of awe and attention... and also a much higher price tag.

2023 Corbières Rosé “Gris de Gris”
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A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish.

2021 Pic Saint Loup Rouge
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There is something timeless to La Roque’s Pic Saint Loup, its herbal bouquet and rich, fleshy texture, all free from any hint of modern trappings.

2022 Vin de France Blanc “Assyrtiko”
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Salinity in spades, fleshed out by summery golden fruit notes, like baked pineapple.

Vin de Pays Memoire “d’Automnes”
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With its aromas of toasted almonds and butterscotch, the resulting bone-dry wine is nothing short of enthralling.

2022 Vin de France Blanc “Malvoise”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Tasting the bottle, one quickly sees winemaker Cyriaque Rozier’s statement that Malvasia has “acclimated perfectly to the land of La Roque” is not an overstatement.

2022 Languedoc Blanc “Aupilhac”
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A blend of Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, and Vermentino planted in the lieu-dit of Aupilhac, the little corner of the Larzac behind Sylvain’s winery.
About The Producer
Château La Roque
About The Region
Languedoc-Roussillon
Ask wine drinkers around the world, and the word “Languedoc” is sure to elicit mixed reactions. On the one hand, the region is still strongly tied to its past as a producer of cheap, insipid bulk wine in the eyes of many consumers. On the other hand, it is the source of countless great values providing affordable everyday pleasure, with an increasing number of higher-end wines capable of rivaling the best from other parts of France.
While there’s no denying the Languedoc’s checkered history, the last two decades have seen a noticeable shift to fine wine, with an emphasis on terroir. Ambitious growers have sought out vineyard sites with poor, well draining soils in hilly zones, curbed back on irrigation and the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and looked to balance traditional production methods with technological advancements to craft wines with elegance, balance, and a clear sense of place. Today, the overall quality and variety of wines being made in the Languedoc is as high as ever.
Shaped like a crescent hugging the Mediterranean coast, the region boasts an enormous variety of soil types and microclimates depending on elevation, exposition, and relative distance from the coastline and the cooler foothills farther inland. While the warm Mediterranean climate is conducive to the production of reds, there are world-class whites and rosés to be found as well, along with stunning dessert wines revered by connoisseurs for centuries.
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
A good doctor prescribed the wine of Nuits-Saint-Georges to the Sun King, Louis XIV, when he suffered an unknown maladie. When the king’s health was restored the tasty remedy enjoyed a vogue at court. Lord, send me a doctor like that!
Inspiring Thirst, page 117