Château Sainte-Eulalie Minervois La Livinière La Cantilène 2008

The 2008 Château Sainte-Eulalie Minervois La Livinière La Cantilène is without a doubt the finest Minervois we have ever tasted. To say that it is deeply colored and highly expressive in bouquet and flavor would be silly understatements. Thanks to La Cantilène’s extraordinary terroir and Isabelle Coustal’s consummate skills, the 2008 La Cantilène positively sings from the glass. Packed with the scents and savors of ripe woodland berries, coffee, graphite, and violet flowers this magical wine from the heart of Minervois captivates from the moment it is poured. However, we trust you won’t be in too much of a hurry, as Madame Coustal has built this wine for the long haul. The 2008 La Cantilène will surely improve in bottle for years to come, yet it can be happily consumed in the near term. Just allow it an hour or more to breathe; it will reveal layer upon layer of flavor the longer it sits open. Full-bodied, but extremely well-balanced, the 2008 is simply a tour de force in winemaking and further evidence of the greatness unfolding in the Minervois La Livinière appellation. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest serving the prodigious 2008 Château Sainte-Eulalie La Cantilène at cool room temperature (60º-65º F). Salut!

The 2008 Château Sainte-Eulalie Minervois La Livinière La Cantilène was made to accompany the finest fare from France’s most renowned chefs. It is Madame Coustal’s most prestigious wine and it is featured in many of France’s top restaurants. Roast quail, served with a savory wild mushroom sauce; roast leg of lamb, rubbed with garlic, olive oil, and Provencal herbs, or an authentic Provencal cassoulet all get our nod to accompany this delectable Minervois. However, one need not be a Cordon Bleu chef to highlight La Cantilène’s many attributes. Simply prepared dishes made with chicken, beef, lamb, or pork won’t steal the thunder from this superb Minervois. Traditional Mediterranean favorites made with beans or lentils pair admirably with Château Sainte-Eulalie’s flagship wine, too, as do cheese and tomato laden dishes such Eggplant Parmigiana and lasagna. Enjoy!

Château St. Eulalie is the pride and joy of Laurent and Isabelle Coustal. The Coustals are originally from Bordeaux where Laurent still consults and makes wine. Together they have resurrected and restored the ancient Minervois vineyards surrounding Château Eulalie, including the domain’s very old vines. They grow Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, the three traditional and most important grape varietals of the Rhône Valley and neighboring Languedoc. Isabelle Coustal is the winemaker and artisan in residence at Château Eulalie. She fashions several wines from old vines, including Plaisir d’Eulalie, a delicious, medium-bodied wine that is meant for early consumption and La Cantilène, a profound, powerful single vineyard offering from what may be the greatest cru of the entire Languedoc. Both red wines spring from old vines from some of the Languedoc’s most renowned terroirs. All of Château Eulalie’s grapes are picked entirely by hand and the resulting wines are bottled unfiltered in order to preserve their freshness and rich, haunting flavors. After more than a decade of outstanding work at Château Eulalie, Madame Coustal has earned her reputation as one of Languedoc’s premier winemakers.