Chateau Faîteau | Minervois La Liviniére Languedoc
2005
A fabulous, well made syrah based wine from the Languedoc’s first cru-designated appellation. With the elegance and finesse of a northern Rhone wine this offering from Jean Michel Arnaud bowled us over when we first tasted it. This is very serious southern French wine that is drinking perfectly at the moment and will continue to improve.
Recommend this wine to a friend
The Press
'It is well defined and bright..It is fresh, full of fruit, perhaps a touch macerated, with notes of sweet, herby friut from the Grenache. There is a good grippy structure underneath, with a little bitter, tea-leaf tannin; I suspect this could go a few years in the cellar. Very good indeed.'—The Wine Doctor, December 2008
Our tasting notes
From the 2007 Guide Hachette: “This Liviniére with the brilliance of one thousand ruby and garnet fires. Vanilla, spice and red fruits are combined with perfectly polished tannins constitute a harmonious structure. A cinnamon key accompanies the persistent finish (2 Stars).” In more simple language: great dark brooding colour with spicy complex nose. Full bodied and delicious—a wine that raises the barrier for Minervois. Thoroughly good and enjoyable.Wine data
Grape variety: Syrah 70%, Carignan 15% & Grenache 15%Appellation: AOC Minervois La Liviniére
Alcohol: 14%
Minervois La Liviniére
Minervois is a fast improving appellation in western Languedoc that has gained a reputation for producing excellent value, characterful and supple red wines. In 1998, Minervois, and indeed the whole of Languedoc, gained its first cru-designated area when the Appellation Minervois la Liviniére Controlee was created. This small region covers about 200 hectares and is centred around four villages in the foothills of the Montagne Noir, the three most important of which are Siran, Cesseras and La Livinière itself. La Livinière shares the same arid terrain and compact limestone and marl soil as the rest of Minervois, with Syrah being the dominant grape.
Prices are all-inclusive for deliveries to UK mainland and Northern Ireland. Minimum total order is 1 case (12 bottles of 75cl equivalent) for the UK and 2 cases (24 bottles of 75cl equivalent) for Northern Ireland, Highlands and islands. We also offer a collection service for our French wines from just outside Calais, France (minimum of 5 cases from the same producer and excluding mixed cases), at a per-bottle saving of £1.50 for wines and £2.00 for Champagne, and a per-case saving of £18 for wine, £24 per 12-case/£12 per 6-case for Champagne. For details, please read our Delivery/Collection Information and Terms & Conditions.
