Côteaux du Languedoc

The Coteaux Du Languedoc appellation is either a useful assemblage of the top enclaves in the Hérault Department or an extremely unhelpful conglomeration of vastly different sub-regions which would be more helpfully categorised independently. Whatever one's opinion, it is not short of both significance and potential, running along the Mediterranean coast from Narbonne almost as far East as Nîmes and covering over 10,000 hectares and some of the most attractive and wonderfully-situated vineyards in France.

Several of its sub-appellations are fighting for full Appellation Contrôlée status, the most famous being La Clape, Picpoul de Pinet and Pic Saint Loup. Of the others, high quality wines are now being produced in, inter alia, Montpeyroux, Grés De Montpellier and Les Terrasses de Larzac. All the principle grapes  are represented, with Carignan and Cinsualt reduced to a maximum of 40% apiece  to encourage more fashionable varieties, especially Syrah and Mourvèdre. The terroir is equally diverse, with  limestone, schist, sand and clay all evidenced.