Today’s Pour · Languedoc, France

2009 Domaine de Saint Dominique, Vin de Pays de l’Hérault
Aniane · Languedoc · 17 years of bottle age

Per bottle · 750ml

Per magnum · 1.5L

Every once in a while, we come across a wine that makes you wonder how on earth we’re able to offer it at a price like this. And today’s wine is one of those rare finds.

This is one of those fun little discoveries that makes our business so enjoyable. An obscure estate, a terrific vintage, a fascinating story, and a price that makes this an absolute no-brainer.

But the story behind this wine is almost as interesting as the wine itself.

A Little Bordeaux Adventure in the South of France

Back in the early 2000s, Danièle Vialard, owner of Château Cissac in the Haut-Médoc, and Eric Hosteins, co-owner of Bordeaux negociant Louis Vialard, shared a passion for the wines of southern France.

They frequently traveled to the Hérault in France’s Languedoc region, searching for hidden gems for their customers and their own cellars. And during one of those adventures, they discovered something special.

A beautiful, contiguous 14-hectare vineyard in Aniane, surrounded by some of the most celebrated names in the Languedoc, including Mas de Daumas Gassac and Domaine de La Grange des Pères.

For those familiar with the region, that’s some pretty impressive company!

The property included a historic mas, or traditional southern French farmhouse, along with hillside vineyards that offered exactly what they were looking for: the opportunity to combine their Bordeaux winemaking experience with the extraordinary character of the Languedoc.

And so Domaine de Saint Dominique was born.

For the next 14 years, they pursued their vision of producing a wine that brought together the best of both worlds. The structure and refinement of Bordeaux, combined with the richness, spice, and personality of southern France.

The estate became an exclusive property of Louis Vialard, a wonderful little detour from their traditional Bordeaux business.

The domaine was eventually sold in 2015 and continues today under a different name, making these older bottles something of a time capsule from a fascinating chapter in the estate’s history.

And that’s what makes today’s 2009 vintage offering so interesting.

We’re showing off a 17-year-old wine from an estate that no longer exists under its original name, produced by Bordeaux wine people in one of the most exciting corners of the Languedoc!

Bordeaux Meets the Mediterranean

The 2009 Domaine de Saint Dominique is an intriguing blend of:

31% Syrah 28% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot 15% Carignan 6% Petit Verdot 5% Mourvèdre

Think about that combination!

You’ve got Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre bringing the richness, spice, and Mediterranean character, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot provide the structure and depth we associate with Bordeaux.

The wine was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks before spending at least 12 months in 500-liter French oak barrels, 50% new.

This was clearly a serious winemaking project, not simply another inexpensive country red.

And 2009 was a terrific vintage across much of France, producing generous, concentrated wines with plenty of ripe fruit and character.

Now, 17 years later, we’re getting the benefit of all that pristine bottle aging at a price that would be remarkable for a wine half its age!

Our Wine Review

What makes the 2009 Domaine de Saint Dominique particularly intriguing is the combination of ripe southern French fruit, Bordeaux-inspired structure, and the complexity that can develop with extended bottle age.

The blend gives off dark cherry, blackcurrant, and ripe plum, with potential secondary notes of leather, tobacco, dried Mediterranean herbs, licorice, cedar, and warm spice.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot provided the proper structure for aging, while the Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre contribute richness and savory character. With 17 years behind it, the real attraction is the possibility of softened tannins, integrated oak, and the earthy complexity that only time can provide.

From our tasting table

This wine is in a perfect place right now. Multiple bottles have been opened chez Spectrum, multiple bottles finished. I can’t think of a Bordeaux from the same vintage at 3 times the price that can match up with this wine...it’s THAT good.

And We Have Magnums!

For those who appreciate mature wines, magnums are especially interesting because the larger format can encourage slower development.

And we really do have only a handful, so the magnums will be first come, first served.

The Bottom Line

Here’s what I love about this offer.

Two Bordeaux wine lovers discover a beautiful 14-hectare property in Aniane, surrounded by some of the Languedoc’s greatest estates. They spend 14 years pursuing their dream of combining Bordeaux winemaking with southern French terroir, creating a wine that today is a little piece of history.

The property is sold, the name disappears, and years later, we have the opportunity to offer the terrific 2009 vintage with 17 years of bottle age.

And the price?

Magnums are first come, first served