Sun Drenched Cab is “La BAUME!

The Sun From South Of France

More and More I am in love with expressions of Bordeaux Varietals from Languedoc in the South of France.

For more than a century, Domaine de la Baume has been carrying on a viticultural tradition and producing enchanting wines with strong aromatic potential.

Rooted in the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon in the small village of Servian, between Béziers and the medieval town of Pézenas, the Domaine is a source of inspiration.  It embodies the warmth of the South, and also love for the land. A single road will take you to the magnificent wrought-iron gate, decorated with a J and a P in honor of Jean Prat, its founder.

The Current Owners

After several changes of proprietor between 1947 and the present day, it was Joseph Helfrich, CEO of the Grands Chais de France group and 21st century visionary, who took over at the head of this wonderful estate in 2003 and proceeded to establish its much-deserved international recognition. Supported by its history and terroir, Domaine de la Baume today produces authentic wines for authentic wine-lovers…

These sun-drenched wines are firm favorites with different cultures in all 5 continents. Domaine de la Baume has won over 50 medals in 5 years.

2016 Domaine De La Baume Cabernet Sauvigon

This is such a different expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. I am digging wines from these Sun Drenched Area. The Terroir is mostly, clay and limestone. This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with no blending. Maceration prior to cold fermentation. Alcohol fermentation, short period in vats, drawing, pressing, malolactic fermentation, and then ageing in large oak vats. The alcohol is 14% ABV. The soil in the vineyards of Domaine de la Baume is very varied: while there are limestone pebbles on the slopes, the plateaus  are clay-limestone and sandy-clay. This rich terroir allows the production of numerous wines ranging from an easy-drinking style to more subtle wines. But whichever they may be, they offer vast range of aromatics and very extracted flavors on the palate. Let’s Review!

My Review

This Domaine has the perfect exposure to produce a flavor profile of a Sun-Drenched Wine. The color is a dark ruby in the glass with very slight variation on the edge as it is only 3 years old. Potent and I mean Potent aromatics jump out of the glass. Ripe and fresh dark blackberry and dark cassis with hints of vanilla from the wood and espresso bean. On the palate this Cab doesn’t fool around. It just attacks right from the start with dark and rich black currant fruit, black licorice and very ripe but structured tannins with a very long finish that invites you for another sip or two. I can see this with pot roast or stews, smoked brisket, aged cheeses as well as just a nightly by the glass Cabernet. If I was back in Restaurants this would be a no brainer  for my By The Glass Cabernet Wine offering. At $12.99 this may be one of the best quality to price ratio wines with textbook flavors I have had in a long time. I am going to score this a strong 92 points out of 100.

My Summary

First I fell in  love with Bernard Magrez’s Bleu De Mer from the south 100% Merlot. This may be the perfect example of value and quality wine coming out of the Languedoc-Roussillon area in the south of France. If you are a Cabernet Fan and you are used to spending $20-$80 per bottle out of California or dare I say even Washington State (my true love lol ) I challenge you to pick this up at $12.99 and experience what a little sunshine mixed with terrior mixed with expertise can produce in this price range. A must try wine. I love it!

Grape-fully yours, Larry

Oenologist Jonathan Sanchez…BRAVO!