Patrick Lesec Selections (Languedoc-Roussillon)

Wines Produced • Cabernet-Merlot Tonneaux • Pic St. Loup Tonneaux • St. Chinian Roches Brunes • Syrah Tonneaux • Cabardes Nuance • Faugères J. C. Estève Tonneaux • St. Chinian Rouanet Tonneaux • St. Chinian Deslines Tonneaux • Ch. Roumanières Nuance • Ch. Roumanières Tonneaux   Region Languedoc-Roussillon, France U.S. Distributors Contact us for information     Of all the regions where Patrick Lesec is involved in winemaking and élevage, it is probably in the warm, dry Languedoc-Roussillon where his intervention has had the most impact on the style and quality of the wines produced. Certainly in Burgundy and the Rhône there have always been vignerons who make first class wines and other young winemakers who are as passionate as Patrick about organic agriculture and non-interventionist élevage. But in the South of France, this drive for maximizing quality is a much more recent phenomenon, and Patrick's efforts should be seen in the context of revolutionary changes taking place in this promising region. Patrick has spent a great deal of time studying the geology and vineyard maps of appellations like Faugères, St. Chinian, Pic St. Loup, Minervois and Côteaux du Languedoc and traveling through the picturesque villages searching for the right combinations of soil and well-tended old vines. He learned the advantages of the different soil types — basalt, limestone, clay and limestone and slate — and which varieties did best on which soil types. He also searched for growers and winemakers with whom he could work and who were flexible enough to try new ideas and techniques in the effort to upgrade the quality of their product. Some had already adopted organic agriculture and non-interventionist winemaking. Once Patrick located the right combinations of soil, grape variety and producer, he made arrangements to produce special cuvées at these estates. He selected lots of wines and determine the blends he wanted. He also specified the élevage, often providing his own barrels for aging the wines. These wines get little to no sulphur, are not pumped, spend extended time on their lies in barrel, and are not fined or filtered. Patrick returned to the estates to check on the progress of the wines and made adjustments when necessary. The idea was to preserve the natural purity and freshness of the fruit and allow the particular character of the soil to show through. Patrick wanted to produce wines in this region with expressive aromatics, deep, complex fruit, soft, round tannins and long, sweet finishes. He believed that the potential existed to make wines that could rival the best wines from the more established and highly respected appellations in the Rhône Valley. In this group of wines, Tonneaux means that the wines are aged in barrel and have the richness and texture and flavor associated with barrel aging. Nuance means that the wines are aged in tank which will emphasize the lush, pure fruit character.

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