THE JANUARY SHUFFLE CLUB

Jan 1

Two Bottles, Zero Snobbery

Languedoc-Roussillon is not only the largest wine producing region in France, it is the largest wine producing region by volume globally. At one point responsible for a third of France’s wine production, a number that has since been scaled back to a mere 25%, Languedoc-Rousillon still makes more wine than all of America’s wine producing regions COMBINED. And while a substantial portion of those wines would certainly fall under the heading of “vin ordinaire”, the region also produces wines of elegance, charm and finesse, often at very friendly prices.

This month we’re doing one of my favorite kinds of lineups: an elegant, old-vine southern French red… and a Cabernet that tastes like it has no interest in being complicated (in the best way).

Elizabeth & François Jourdan (Château L’Argentier) Cinsault Vieilles Vignes, Pays d’Hérault 2020

Château L’Argentier is run by Élisabeth & François Jourdan, longtime fixtures in the Languedoc who helped push the region toward more quality-focused, terroir-driven wines. The property itself was founded by Elisabeth’s grandfather in 1937 with Elisabeth and her husband taking the helm in the 80’s. They farm their small estate sustainably, relying on hand-picking and low yields- lower than those required of Grand Cru Burgundy, to produce wines of elegance and charm from regional grapes such as Carginane, Syrah, Grenache, Aramon, and Cinsault.

If the Cinsault grape has a superpower, it’s this: it can taste light on its feet and elegant without ever feeling thin and has structure without ever feeling heavy. This bottling comes from old-vine Cinsault (planted in 1969), grown in the Hérault—the warmer, scrubby southern stretch of the Languedoc where sun is plentiful and freshness is something you farm for on purpose. This is a wine of style rather than stuffing with beautifully silky light-medium body, fresh raspberry, strawberry and plum notes overlaid with light floral notes.

Pairings (a few favorites):

Grilled lamb skewers with herbs (Cinsault + rosemary is unfairly good)
Ratatouille, grilled eggplant, or anything involving olive oil and garlic

GET THE RACK OF LAMB RECIPE

Les Vignobles de l’Alaric

“La Miche” Cabernet Sauvignon, Pays d’Oc 2024

“La Miche” is made at Vignobles d’Alaric, a quality-minded cooperative working in the hills around Carcassonne, between Corbières and Minervois- a landscape of limestone terraces, clay-limestone slopes, gravelly plains, and pockets of sandstone. That mix of soils matters: it’s one reason you can get Cabernet here that feels ripe and generous, but not syrupy or heavy.

While there are certainly small winemaking coops in parts of France, the scale here is real—about 1,300 hectares across 20+ communes. That being said, the positioning is clearly modern: the wine carries HVE3 sustainability certification and Terra Vitis certification. It’s vinified in a mix of concrete and steel, which is a very practical way of saying: “we’re here for fruit and drinkability, not oak cosplay.”

Tasting notes: This is not Robert Parker’s favorite style of cabernet. This is not hugely extracted, over-oaked, high octane ego juice. This is not a wine for collectors and should not be considered a vehicle for investment. This is a wine to open, drink, and enjoy. The wine is medium bodied and low in tannins- like a bowl of ripe cherries with kirsch, and warm spices. This is the sort of cabernet that goes with a wide variety of foods: