AOC: Vin de Pays des Côtes de Brian
100% Carignan (old vine)
(this is the local VDP name for the part of the Minervois that is in the Herault. Bran is a small river that ends in Minerve.
Made from low-yield vines planted in 1911 and 1972 this is a distinctive wine, rustic yet elegant. The grapes are hand-picked, stemmed and foot-crushed then left on the skins for 5 weeks with daily crushings. The wine is then aged in the 2-8 year-old 400 liter Allier oak barrels for 24 months.
Lo Vielh, aptly named in the ancient Languedoc dialect as The Old One for the old vines used, has a beautiful blackberry color and cherry nose. It is earthy, rich, and well-balanced with complex layered Carignan fruit – hints of licorice, clove and leather.
Ratings and Reviews from March 2012 of Jeb Dunnuck’s Rhone Report:
2007 Domaine du Gravillas Lo Veilh (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Brian) Coming from just 2 hectares of Carignan vines that were planted between 1911 and 1970, the stunning 2007 Clos du Gravillas Lo Veilh, aged for 13-14 months in 400L French oak, boasts a knockout bouquet of smoked black cherries, plum, saddle leather, wild Provencal herbs, lead pencil, and loads of spice. Impressively balanced, with solid depth and concentration that’s balanced by juicy acidity and notable purity of fruit, this top-notch, medium to full-bodied Languedoc can be consumed now, or cellared for 5-6 years. (93 pts.)
Robert Parker Review March 2017 90pts
Wine & Spirits Review of the 2011 Lo Vielh June 2014 issue (not in stock at Chartrand Imports)
2017
WINES OF LANGUEDOC
VDP Cotes de Brian
This cuvée of great character, in the 2015 vintage, shows a particularly elegant profile and deep flavors evoking the “garrique” (dry herbal countryside of Languedoc), tobacco, and camphor, carried by dense, fine tannins in a long and spicy package.