Winemaker Notes
An accessible wine with loads of character, “Les Darons” is packed with ripe, red and dark fruit aromas, with plenty of spice and a streak of underlying minerality.
Enjoy this classic, unoaked red with a wide range of everyday meals.
Blend: 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of Grenache and Syrah sourced from multiple appellations, the 2019 Languedoc Les Darons is a perennial winner that always seems to over-deliver at the price. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a great nose of sweet red and black fruits, spice, and savory garrigue, it's medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, pretty tannins, and a great finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An unoaked blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, the 2019 Languedoc Les Darons is led by ample cherry fruit, with just hints of garrigue and peppery spice. Medium to full-bodied, it's a bit open-knit in texture but offers plenty of flavor and length. Enjoy it over the next few years. Best After 2021
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.