#343 Wines from the Cotes de Thongue

Thirty miles south west of Montpellier is the Cotes de Thongue and in the middle of this region is the village of Alignan du Vent (population 1200).  In the 1970's, this region that has an ancient winemaking history, decided to start planting new grapes to match the many varied soil types in the region, and more importantly, what will be commercially advantageous.  The wines I tried today, Moulin Montarels, are made by the cooperative, Les Vignerons d'Alignan du Vent and are four single varietal wines, with their French 'homelands' in very different regions.  How do grapes from as diverse areas as the Loire, Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux fare in 850 hectares of Southern France?

2010 Moulin Montarels Sauvignon Blanc 
Fresh and grassy with a little bit of green bean, nettle, orange too.  Some salt note coming through, a little bit of salty rock as well.  The palate is well balanced, a slightly creamy texture, some lovely floral elements and some light mineral flavours - some sandstone and granite!  A really nice, balanced, soft, unaggressive Sauvignon Blanc that just tastes good, is fresh and easy to drink.  I really like this.  8/10

2009 Moulin Montarels Viognier
Round but light tropical fruit.  Some pineapple and mango and with a little citrussy zest coming through on the end of the nose with a touch of pear drop.  The palate is full, pear and mango flavours with just a touch of lemon peeking through.   Some structure, a slight pea pod flavour mixed with some apple core, but it becomes disjointed. The finish is a little high on acid and it isn't that good a wine.  4.5/10

2008 Moulin Montarels Pinot Noir
Confected blueberries with raspberries and some strawberry coming through - all with a sprinkling of dirt.  There are more savoury, liquorice aromas underneath the fruit, but you do get the impression they are going for a sweet fruit aroma.  The palate is dry, tannins come to the fore, with savoury notes but with some sweet fruit acting as seasoning.  Then you get the bitter fruit flavours - plum skin and leaves - with some dust on the finish.  It is ok, but nothing special.  5.5/10

2010 Moulin Montarels Merlot
Full on Merlot attack!  Berries, some chocolate and meat juices - no, raw steak, on the nose.  Then there is some sweeter spices, a bit of sweet cherry and cream.  The palate has a green note up front, some pepper and a bit of green pepper.  Then some sour cherry, bark and dark chocolate comes in on the back end.  The tannins are firm, but would be disguised by some food, and then there is more green pepper on the finish.  All in all, a good Merlot.  7/10

All these wines retail for between nine and ten pounds.