Château Sainte Eulalie Plaisir d’Eulalie Minervois 2017

The Coustals have once again fashioned a hedonistic and thoroughly enjoyable red wine in their 2017 Château Eulalie Plaisir d’Eulalie Minervois. Ripe, round, and beautifully textured, the 2017 Plaisir d’Eulalie highlights the estate’s inimitable terroir and old vines in yet another exceptional Languedoc vintage. The 2017 Plaisir d’Eulalie begins to captivate from the moment it is poured. Savory scents of black cherry and plum, intertwined with hints of violet, Provençal herbs and black pepper greet the nose and continue to develop and impress for hours. Juicy red and black fruit flavors mingle with hints of garrigue and violets to fill the mouth and grace the palate. Soft, ripe tannins frame this seductive red and carry the wine’s pleasing surfeit of flavors to a fulfilling finish. The 2017 Château Eulalie Plaisir d’Eulalie is neither big nor brawny; rather it is a wine for those who appreciate a pure unadulterated red wine that displays both beautiful fruit flavors and an authentic taste of its place of origin. For those seeking such a wine, they need look no further than this superb country wine from France’s oldest wine producing region. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest serving the utterly charming 2017 Château Eulalie Plaisir d’Eulalie at cool room temperature (60º-62º F) after a few minutes of aeration. Salut!

Young, fresh, and full of flavor, the 2017 Château Sainte Eulalie Plaisir Minervois drinks beautifully now with little or no accompaniments. However, one would be hard-pressed to find a better wine to bring to table than Château Eulalie’s 2017 Plaisir d’Eulalie. Stews, grilled meats, and flavorful pastas make superb companions to this wine, as do a variety of chicken, beef, lamb, and pork dishes. Pasta with white beans and vegetables; penne pasta with grilled spicy sausages, peppers, and onions; and Chicken Cacciatore over bowtie pasta are some of our favorite companions to the Coustals' Sainte Eulalie Plaisir. Each of these dishes complements the sensual side of the 2017 Plaisir d’Eulalie. Roast pork tenderloin served with an herb encrusted black olive tapenade provides another splendid companion. More traditional Mediterranean favorites such as ratatouille, orecchiette with broccoli rabe, vegetarian lasagna, and of course pizza also make fine accompaniments to this wine. Most dishes made with fresh tomatoes, herbs, and wild mushrooms are good bets, too. Salami, pepperoni, soppressata, and other smoked meats provide more tasty pairings with this wine, especially in the company of aged, hard cheeses. Enjoy!

Château Sainte Eulalie quickly became one of our favorite properties in Languedoc and a favorite among our membership. Under the ownership of Laurent and Isabelle Coustal, Château Sainte Eulalie has joined the top echelon of Languedoc producers. The Coustals, who are originally from Bordeaux, have resurrected and restored the ancient Minervois vineyards surrounding their domaine, including the old vines at Château Eulalie. The Coustals grow Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, the three traditional and most important grape varietals of Languedoc.

Isabelle and Laurent Coustal serve as artisans in residence at Château Sainte Eulalie. They tend the vines and fashion several wines from old vines, including Plaisir d’Eulalie and La Cantilène. Both red wines spring from old vines grown in what many consider to be Languedoc’s most renowned terroir. Plaisir d’Eulalie is grown sustainably, picked entirely by hand, and bottled unfiltered in order to preserve its freshness and rich, seductive flavors. After nearly two decades of outstanding work at Château Eulalie, the Coustals have earned a reputation as one of the Languedoc’s most dynamic couples, and their estate one of the finest in all Languedoc.

Languedoc is the world’s largest single viticultural area, encompassing many appellations and distinctive sub regions – all of which are capable of producing fine wine. This sprawling viticultural wonderland stretches all the way from the Spanish border in the southwest, within sight of the towering Pyrenees, to the banks of the Rhône River far to the northeast. Languedoc cuts a huge swath of dry coastal plain and sheltered mountains from which flow the guts and the glory of French viticulture.

The Languedoc, whose name is synonymous with the language of southern France, was the first part of ancient Gaul to be extensively planted to the vine and has remained extensively cultivated for millennia. For centuries the Languedoc reigned as France’s most important viticultural area, but the region suffered greatly with the advent of phylloxera throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century, causing the Languedoc to languish in the doldrums of viticultural obscurity, unless of course one considers everyday plonk as a beverage of choice. Once the proud bastion of French viticultural excellence, the Languedoc became the world’s major source of huge quantities of insipid wines, whose main virtues were none other than high alcohol and cheap prices – all of which were subsidized by the French government. Fortunately, the paradigm has changed. The Languedoc is quickly returning to its former glory. The worldwide demand for cheap, coarse wine no longer exists; the emphasis today is on quality rather than quantity. In addition, the only official incentive for grape growers is to plant premium varietals, move back to the ancient hillside sites, and produce less wine of greater quality. Since the 1970s, a true viticultural Renaissance has been sweeping the Languedoc and the results are nowhere more apparent than in the favored appellation of Minervois.