Mas Combarela Terrasses du Larzac "Ode aux Ignorants" red 2020

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Mas Combarèla Terrasses du Larzac "Ode aux Ignorants" red 2020:

In Magnum (Bettane + Desseauve), Languedoc file - selection of all those who have joined the elite of French production, Sept. 2023. 93/100 (=16.5/20) “This vintage confirms the graceful style of this cuvée that is delicate yet full, an ode to those who were once ignorant, but now know what great wine is.”

Jancis Robinson, the famous English critic (she is a Master of Wine, the most difficult diploma to obtain in the world), visited Olivier Faucon during the summer of 2023. She then published a very kind article about Mas Combarèla, of which here are some excerpts, along with her comments on this cuvée.

Olivier Faucon of Mas Combarèla is just one of the many "over-performers" in the largest wine region in France. The Languedoc may not be the easiest region to understand, but can we afford to ignore it? Intrigued by Tam's enthusiastic tasting notes on the wines of Mas Combarèla, I set off at the end of July 2023 to visit the domaine in the heights of the Terrasses du Larzac appellation.

He may not be originally from Languedoc, but judging by his wines, he seems to have a perfect understanding of the local conditions. A total of 12 ha, between 150 and 350 m in altitude. 75-year-old Carignan vines surround the property. Through a small oak wood, in a band surrounded by trees and fragrant garrigue, lies what he calls his Clos Secret, actually a hidden valley, planted with 50-year-old vines, old Cinsault vines that produce a particularly distinctive wine. The soils of the vines are crossed by a limestone flow that diagonally traverses the property. To the southeast of this band is a soil rich in iron oxide, to the northwest a sandy soil. Faucon has grafted a mass selection of Chenin Blanc from the Loire and has also grafted some old vines of Carignan Blanc and Vermentino, a grape that must now be called Rolle in France, thanks to Italian lobbying. He informed me that a Terrasses du Larzac white appellation was in preparation and that quite a few winemakers were planting Chenin there. He certainly has an original range of wine names, but when I asked this former marketing executive how to better sell Languedoc wines to the public, he replied: "I don't know." If they had all the quality and sophistication of the Mas Combarèla range, it might be a bit easier.

The "Tam" mentioned by Jancis Robinson above is her collaborator Tamlyn Currin, who tasted the wines of Mas Combarèla in early 2023 and published the following comment: Ode Aux Ignorants 2020 93/100 (=16.5/20): “Certified organic. Mostly Syrah with a bit of Carignan and Grenache. Appealing fruits. Sharp acidity. Loads of charm from strawberries, cooked plums, and a hint of just-lit cigar. Present tannins that provide grip. Seems even fresher than when I tasted it six months ago! (2023-2029).”

Les Echos (Millésime Bio file, selection of the 50 cuvées of organic reds from Occitanie at affordable prices by Yohan Castaing, January 2023): Ode Aux Ignorants 2020 “In echo to the comic book that has allowed many enthusiasts to take an interest in viticulture, this cuvée that is both generous and fruity is a fine example of wines [from the Terrasses du Larzac], this still young appellation. "

VertdeVin Magazine (January 2023): Ode Aux Ignorants 2020, 93-94/100 (=16.75/20).
“Medium intensity ruby color. The nose expresses pronounced aromas of red and black fruits, with notes of garrigue and aromatic herbs and a mineral note of wet stone and limestone. On the palate, the wine is fleshy and full-bodied, with rich flavors of ripe red and black fruits (plum, Morello cherry, black fig), notes of bitter cocoa, Sarawak pepper, black olives, and dried bouquet garni. The tannins are powerful, velvety, and enveloping. The finish is long, with fresh and dried black fruits (dried blackcurrant, fresh plum, Morello cherry), sweet spices (clove, licorice, cinnamon), and bitter cocoa. A sunny wine, rich, yet fresh and balanced. Good aging potential.”

Challenge Millésime BIO (January 2023): Gold Medal.

Technical sheet written by the domaine:

Cuvée whose name is a tribute to the comic "Les Ignorants" by Étienne Davodeau in collaboration with Richard Leroy) that inspired the winemaker's vocation.

Grape variety: Syrah, Carignan, Grenache Noir, Cinsault

Tasting: Signature wine with mineral notes of ink and graphite. Complex palate. Fresh and juicy balance that promises a lovely evolution.

Food and wine pairings: Aged meats, tournedos Rossini, beef fillet in crust, tuna steak, characterful cheeses

Aging potential: 12 years and more