2015 Vignobles Foncalieu L'Apogée Saint-Chinian France 750 ml

You might have heard that France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region has some of the greatest red-wine values in the world.

The 2015 Vignobles Foncalieu L'Apogée is a chance to taste it for yourself. 

From the outstanding 2015 Languedoc vintage and the rising Saint-Chinian appellation, this bottle was deemed “drop-dead gorgeous” and “possibly one of the wines of the vintage” by Jeb Dunnuck (writing for The Wine Advocate). It’s a stunner that captures the south of France in a bottle, showing gorgeous florals, savory spices, and sun-kissed berry tones.

This wine wasn’t available in the US when we first tasted it, so we brought it over and then popped the first bottles alongside a massive ribeye. Its full-bodied depth, muscular tannins, and layers of freshly ground coffee, black tea, and incense took all those violet and juicy fruit notes (not to mention our steak) to the next level. What’s more, its elegant, lifted acidity stayed refreshing throughout the meal. 

Atelier Prestige de Foncalieu—the talented team behind the 2015 Foncalieu L'Apogée—is one of a handful of producers working to establish Saint-Chinian as one of the premier subregions of the Languedoc.

Red-wine lovers are beginning to wake up to these generous, dark-fruited, garrigue-scented red wines, which are underpinned by a refreshing mineral edge. Decanter recently wrote that Saint-Chinian’s “wines have never been better.” Foncalieu vignerons Michel Cazevieille and Sébastien Roubichou have nurtured their land since the first Saint-Chinian wines gained AOC status back in 1982.

Only 283 cases were made of this red, so you won’t be seeing much of this one. Here’s hoping the next time you think of it, you’ll head straight for your cellar.