L’Atelier Prestige range - L’Apogée

            French wine co-operative, Les Vignobles Foncalieu call themselves ‘the upmarket cooperative’ and if the two wines they sent me are anything to go with, they seem to be right on the money (and it is quite a lot of money!). The coop consists of 1,200 winemakers, about 7000 hectares of vines and a number of cooperative cellars around the region. They’re one of the largest cooperatives in the Languedoc - headquartered in Azens, in the Aude. I have never been to any of these places (yet) but have a rough idea of what the soil tastes like after a few years slamming French vino.

Founded in 1967, Foncalieu later became a ‘Union of Cooperatives’ in 1992. For a bit of historical perspective, the first cooperative in France was formed in Alsace in 1895 (when it was still part of Germany..thanks Wikipedia!)

These two wines are part of L’Atelier Prestige (originally established in 2008) - and are part of Foncalieu’s 'Grands Vins' collection. The site also has them listed as part of 'Les Icônes' - which Foncaleu refer to as ‘their most exceptional wines’. There are two other wines in the series - 'Le Lien' and 'Les Illustres', neither of which I have tried…but never say never...

Anyhow - you are looking at one of only 3400 bottles of L’Apogée made, coming out of Saint Chinian. Grown at 180 meters, I think I have an idea of where they get the name from. It’s 85% Syrah and 15% Grenache Noir, about £25 retail, and was brought into this world in large part due to the efforts of Michel Cazevieille and Sébastien Roubichou. Again, I have no met these men but I assume that they probably know some serious shit about Syrah.

I am also told that it has a 10 year cellaring potential (mine is NOT going to last that long…I don’t even have a cellar!). Plus I would be 37 when I finally drunk it (assuming I lasted that long). And I can’t even CONCEIVE of that. Wat.

Taken on: March 4, 2015

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