DGA Wine CLub: Le XV du President 2011

Posted by Jamie

Le XV du President 2011 is a spicy Grenache from Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes, France.  Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes is one of two Vins de Pays de Zone within the Pyrenees-Orientales administrative department in the southern Languedoc-Roussillon wine region of France. 

The mountainous topography in the west of this area, coupled with the coastal plains in the east, mean that the mesoclimates and terroirs are highly varied.  The XV vineyard is located the foothills of the Pyrenees where there are long hot days and cool evenings.  This produces especially concentrated flavors from the ultra-low-yielding, old-vine Grenache. 

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is right on the border with Spain, the country which made the Grenache famous.  Grenache, called “Garnacha” in Spain, is the third most planted red varietal in the world.  It is a great blending grape which boasts flavor of ripe strawberry, red cherry and spice.

Winemaker Mark Hoddy is a rising star.  He began his wine production career at the tender age of 12.  He began at a small family estate in the Channel Islands where he rose from being the Saturday bottle polisher to assistant winemaker and Calvados distiller.  After studying Oenology at the University of Brighton, Mark went to learn his trade further under Angela Muir MW at Cellarworld in Australia, with BRL Hardys and finally at Domaines Donoso in Chile.  He is now Le Chai's resident winemaker.

The appearance of the wine was deep ruby in the glass and had the aroma of cranberry and ripe raspberry with notes of rosemary, thyme, and lavender.  The taste is full-flavored, smooth and warm.  It is fruit forward with a lot of spice.  It is a very pungent red wine yet surprisingly smooth.

The wine notes suggest pairing the Le XV du President 2011 with wild boar.  As I check my freezer, I discovered I was fresh out of wild boar.  In fact, per the usual, my freezer was completely empty so I opted for a rib eye from take out.  The wine was very bold and definitely on the fuller side.  I enjoyed the wine but likely should have heeded the advice and picked a more gamey or spicy meat.  In a more casual setting, the wine would likely be very good with a spicy barbecue brisket.  On my next visit to Kansas City, I plan to try this wine with some barbecue and will likely enjoy it more than I did with the rib eye steak.