Languedoc wines: Going beyond Fat Bastard

You’ve heard, perhaps, of Fat Bastard, Arrogant Frog, and Red Bicyclette, said Dave McIntyre in The Washington Post. Those familiar brand-name wines all come from France’s Languedoc region, long known for producing massive amounts of inferior wine. “But the cheap wine is getting better,” mostly thanks to an infusion of capital from big-name French producers. Many of these red wines are made with traditional Rhône Valley grapes—Grenache, Syrah, or Mourvèdre, sometimes with a splash of Merlot or Cabernet. Here are some of the best lesser-known Languedocs currently available.

Mas Laval 2006 Vin de Pays de l’Herault

($37) Fermented in new oak, this perfumed wine “coats the palate like fine silk.” It ranks 20th in La Revue du Vin de France’s list of the 100 best reds from Languedoc.

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Mas Laval 2007 ‘Les Pampres’

($19) Not as overwhelming as its more powerful sibling, but a “great value.”

Ermitage du Pic St. Loup, Cuvee Sainte Agnes 2005 ?Coteaux du Languedoc

($23) Another “great value.” A deceptively light body. Ranked 57th on the RVF list.