Chateau Pech-Latt, Lagrasse, Aude

As an indicator of the revival of the wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon area, this is another vineyard to have changed ownership in recent years and to have received investment in new planting and new equipment. The Burgundy house of Louis Max, now overseen by cravat-wearing Laurent Max, has bought both Chateau Pech-Latt and fellow organic Corbieres producer Chateau de Caraguilhes.

At Pech-Latt, the regime remains the same, however; winemaker Philippe Matthias, pictured with me below, continues to preside over the superb vineyard, nestled in a bowl at the head of a valley below the Montagne d'Albaric. Here, like a true artist, he selects grapes from the palette of vines to create:
a traditional Corbieres with all the scent and flavour of the garrigue;
an old vine Corbieres which has great intensity of flavour from vines aged 35-90 years old; and a beautifully flavoured white made from Roussane and Macabeu, which has great finesse.

Chateau Pech-Latt 2002 Corbieres, France. This rejects oak for a more supple version of the traditionally robust flavours of Corbieres. Rich depths of generous red and black fruit make it a suitable partner for autumn foods such as rabbit, sausages or stewed lamb. The Daily Telegraph, October 2003.

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