It’s been a cold and dreary week here in Toronto, my friends. Icy temperatures, mounds of snow and bone chilling winds have been keeping most of us indoors and in the heat. As I write this, I’m saying a prayer for friends and family that are in Texas facing the coldest conditions seen in over 30 years alongside serious threats to their energy infrastructure and ability to stay warm and safe. As the saying goes, there is always something to be grateful for and someone who is worse off than you.

Therefore, suffice it to say that Wineitupanotch Wine Wednesday was most certainly impacted by this backdrop this week! With freezing toes and ice cold hands, I definitely went to the wine shop yesterday looking for something rich to warm my soul. More on that below.

If you are new to this blog and want to know more about my weekly Wine Wednesday feature, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks. The main thing is that my objective is to find something that is actually available for purchase right now.

Now I’d be remiss to not point out that I’m located in Ontario, Canada and I therefore buy my wines for the Wine of the Week feature from the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario).  However, the wines I pick are generally widely available in most major markets (such is the nature of the stock at the LCBO!) and online too, so if you like what you read but are not in Ontario, you should be able to find the wine that is featured wherever you like to shop. 

For the convenience of readers who are located in Ontario, I always provide the LCBO Product Number, and a direct link to the LCBO website, in my reviews. So go ahead and shop away, fellow Ontario dwellers! :)

And just a quick reminder that I did not get paid to pick, drink or endorse the wine I’ve selected below. So you can safely trust my notes are my own.

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

2018 Chateau de Segure Vielles Vignes Fitou

As I said, it has been really cold and and snowy where I am, for a consistent stretch, for the first time this winter. So it was with freezing hands, ice cold toes and a furry toque on my head that I went hunting for this week’s wine pick. As you can probably imagine, I went right past anything light and ethereal to deeper, richer wines from warmer climates to get the fix that I needed to warm my soul! When you want a rich wine, you can more or less always be sure you’ll find it in a red wine from the South of France and this one didn’t disappoint in that regard! Read on to learn what you need to know about this wine.

What does this wine cost?

$17.95. I dare say this is a great price for such a big and rich wine.

Where does this wine come from?

This wine comes from the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region in the south of France and more specifically, from the Fitou appellation therein. Fitou is a smaller appellation which is just a few miles away from the Mediterranean sea and is bisected by another noteworthy appellation (Corbieres) into two sides - a coastal side which is nearer to the sea and a mountainous side which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. Regardless, the whole of the Fitou appellation is certainly benefits from a Mediterranean climate.

Wines have been made in Fitou for a long, long time, dating back to the Greeks and Romans being in this area. It was the first AOC designated in this area back in the 1940s.

Fitou red wines must be made up of a minimum of 60% Carignan and Grenache, with at least 20% of each variety being utilized in the final blend. A minimum 10% of Syrah and/or Mouvedre must also be used. These strict blending requirements are governed by law.

Who makes this wine?

This wine is produced by the largest and most noteworthy cooperative in the Languedoc-Roussillon area, Mont Tauch. The fruit for this wine comes from the lands around Chateau de Segure, an 11th century chateau that is built into a rocky escarpment overlooking the town of Tuchon and was once controlled by Cistercian monks. It is now part of a mega-portfolio. For those that are interested, click here to learn more about the Mont Tauch cooperative.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Soil type - schist, limestone and clay

Farming practices - sustainable

Vinification - grape varieties are separately harvested. Fermentation occurs in tank and the wine has been aged for 9-12 months in new and used barrels.

ABV - 14%

Sugar content - 4 g/L

My tasting notes:

A beautiful garnet colour in the glass, this dry red wine delights the nose with complex notes of spice, herbs, florals, black fruit and meat which seemingly jump at you. On the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied in mouthfeel but has an intense presence. On the palate, it is full of ripe blackberry, clove, black pepper, cinnamon, black tea and garrigue notes, with a hint of tobacco. The wine has nice structure, with firm tannins, cheerful acidity and a long finish. This is definitely a wine for food - without it, it may seem a bit aggressive for some people.

Aging potential:

2-3 years. Additional aging should allow the wine to mellow further.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

As I said in my tasting notes, this wine really comes alive with food. To wine things up a notch, pair this wine with grilled red meat, a rich meat stew, cured sausages or firm aged cheese. I also tried it with spicy vietnamese pho and I thought this worked well too!

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 88 points

This is definitely a very nice wine for the price and is also sure to warm up your soul if you’re living in a cold climate and it’s winter! In the summer, this wine could be great with BBQ too. I really enjoyed the complexity and richness here.

If you’re located in Ontario, and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #370254.

FINAL VERDICT:

This is a good food wine. If you get it, be sure to enjoy it with a nice meal on a cold winter night to soothe your soul and whisk you off somewhere a little bit warmer and sun soaked. After all, who doesn’t want to be in the South of France right now? :)

All the best and stay warm and dry, friends! Sante!

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