La Grande Sieste, Languedoc-Roussillon
It’s not so long ago that wine enthusiasts had little time for wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. They were mainly made by peasant-vignerons, who concentrated on making large quantities more than thinking of quality, and employed methods and techniques handed down by their grandparents.
Traditionally, France’s fine wines were thought to come from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, although wise heads could always appreciate some of the great wines of the Rhône Valley and Alsace.
But the world of French wine is changing. Young winemakers are moving into the Languedoc-Roussillon region, and employing science and technology, and modern best practices. And some of the results are impressive.
One such vineyard is “La Grande Sieste” situated 30 km from Montpellier on the terroir of Aniane and the terraces of Larzac. The Domaine de la Grande Sieste is a wine estate managed by Leticia and Boris Leclercq. The estate was actually born on Leticia’s birthday, March 19, 2015.
After three years in conversion, 2019 was the year of Organic Agriculture certification! The vines are treated rigorously and respectfully of nature.
Leticia and Boris are a couple passionate about wine making, who have surrounded themselves with an invested team who share the same vision, with a specialised know-how and a sharp sensitivity to lovingly create the wines of their dreams.
Marie-Francoise and I were warmly received by Leticia on the day of our visit to the vineyard’s wonderful historic building. With great passion and enthusiasm she shared with us their history on the vineyard and their philosophy and ambitions.
Leticia then offered us a tasting of their six main wines – red, rose and white.
The “Fantasme” rouge, 2022, 100% Syrah, is their top of the line red wine. It is a sensational, powerful and complex wine, which will likely age well for another ten years. For those seeking a poetic analysis, Toulouvin.com offers the following description.
“It has an intense garnet red color, with deep purple highlights. This color announces a powerful and concentrated wine, with a beautiful promise of complexity. The nose of this great Aniane wine is complex and captivating. It offers a rich and evolving aromatic palette… Fantasme de la Grande Sieste is a powerful and complex red wine, which fully expresses the character of the Aniane terroir.”
The price of 46 euros a bottle might seem expensive, but it is well worth it!
Although all the wines were excellent, the other ones that stood out to me were the: 2022 Rouge de Reve wine, a lovely easy drinking wine, made from Syrah and Grenache (17 euros), and the Rose de Reve (2022), a nice fresh crisp rose, which is based on Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah (15 euros).
La Grande Sieste is a great discovery, which I cannot recommend highly enough.