2014 La Pèira en Damaisèla Terrasses Du Larzac

La Pèira en Damaisela is a 30-acre estate in Les Terrasses du Larzac owned by Robert Dougan and his wife Karine Ahton. Dougan is an Australian composer known for mixing music genres and for his movie soundtracks. The couple started the estate in 2004 and their vineyards are planted to the traditional grapes of the region, including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne and Clairette. They make both red and white wines, all extremely well-reviewed. Wine writers have given the estate’s wine ratings in the low to high 90s, and La Pèira is considered one of the leading producers in the region in terms of improving the reputation of Languedoc, once largely a producer of bulk wine. Audrey Bonnet-Koenig, who has worked at Cheval Blanc, among other estates, is winemaker. Wine Advocate wrote this about La Pèira: “If it were not already abundantly clear, this is now one of the three or four most exciting not to mention meticulously-run properties in the Languedoc, and as such is broadcasting the message that this region’s soils and old vines harbor abundant latent grandeur whose awakening awaits only the right combination of inspiration, labor, and luck.”

Languedoc-Roussillon is very large wine-producing region in south and southwestern France extending along the Mediterranean coast from northern Spain to the Rhone Valley. It includes more than 800,000 vineyard acres and numerous appellations, nearly all created since the mid-20th century. Languedoc-Roussillon produces one-third of all the wine made in France and it long had a reputation for quantity over quality. In the last few decades, however, outside investors and some long-time local producers have greatly improved vineyard practices and winemaking. The result is that Languedoc-Roussillon is now home to many entrepreneurially-minded producers highly focused on quality, and it enjoys a buzz among wine buyers looking for well-crafted, robust wines offered at excellent values. The most successfully grown red grapes are the traditional Rhone varietals of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, though Carignan and Cinsault are also planted. The intense sun and dry weather makes it tougher to grow white grapes, though Chardonnay and some other white grapes are often successful. Chardonnay is used for the popular sparkling wine Crémant de Limoux, a Languedoc-Roussillon appellation created in 1990.