As already mentioned, the slowness with which Wein & Co is updating its wine-by-the-glass list has somewhat exasperated me – although at the beginning of July, new proposals appeared on the menu, and there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, in Vienna, there is also a small French wine shop that generously offers monthly tastings. It’s called Vinothek La Cave, and it’s located in the fifth district, a faux-rundown area. But we could describe much of Vienna with this adjective.
Since then, unfortunately the wine shop has closed, as I report here.
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The wines at La Cave are French, but not well-known. The family that runs the shop focuses on off the beaten path wineries, and this is certainly reflected in the prices. Sometimes, quality also drops, but never scandalously. That is, the bottles rarely cost too much for what you get.
I have a weak spot for La Cave’s tastings. Wisely, the owners schedule them for two days in a row to avoid the crowd that, especially in winter, still forms inside the basement where the shop is located. The atmosphere is pleasantly jovial, also because there is no need to arrive at a set time; the pater familias stays all afternoon behind the table with about fifteen proposals, usually priced between €10 and €50 per bottle. Upon your arrival, you start the tour independently.
The participants become familiar faces after a while. Many are there to drink a few glasses with friends, few seem genuinely intent on taking notes and writing down impressions, and some make purchases. I have never bought a single bottle at La Cave. But this is not a judgment on their offering; I simply love buying directly from the producer. More than the single bottle, I am fascinated by the proposals of the various wineries, so purchasing at a wine shop becomes rare. Nevertheless, I pay for the tasting ticket – usually between €20 and €30 – and hope this is enough to support a shop that is certainly original and therefore important in Vienna’s wine offering.
The tasting on June 6th focused on the comparison between Terrasses du Larzac and Pic St Loup. I found it generally valid, with two wines that truly fascinated me and many that I liked. As mentioned, we are on the border between indie and unknown producers, but nose and palate have little to do with the number of reviews on Vivino.
Terrasses du Larzac / Pic St Loup Comparison
The rosés of Terrasses du Larzac / Pic St Loup
Mescladis Pic-Saint-Loup 2022 | Domaine Clavel – Ethereal, green, and citrusy. Fun and slightly sweet in the finish.
Lou Maset Rosé 2019 | Domaine d’Aupilhac – Does such a serious rosé make sense? Deep, with notes of grapefruit and butter. Needs food.
The reds of Terrasses du Larzac / Pic St Loup
Galabert Pic St Loup Rouge 2022 | Le Cellier du Pic – Blackberries, smoky, fruity but with an ancient taste and elegant tannins. Really pleasant.
Cynarah Pic Saint Loup 2020 | Château de Cazeneuve – Sandalwood, meat, green. Certainly light and perhaps thin, but serious. Spicy with a nice clayey tannin around the mouth.
Les Carlines Terrasses du Larzac 2020 | Mas Haut-Buis – Floral, ethereal, spicy. Robust and sexy tannin. Simple and fun.
Cleo 2021 | Mas de Brousses – Mint and jasmine. Delicate.
L’Optimiste 2022 | Chemin des Reves – Floral but with depth and flavor. Dense and multidimensional.
Bonne Pioche Pic-Saint-Loup 2020 | Domaine Clavel – Juicy and dry together, with strong tannins, thyme notes, and a chocolatey finish.
Cuvée Elliot 2020 | Domaine de L’Accent – So French! Seaweed, mold, black fruits, cassis, and a chocolatey aftertaste. Strong but elegant tannin. One of the two wines I liked the most and which I believe I will buy. Plus, it’s low-priced.
Les Cocalières Rouge 2019 | Domaine d’Aupilhac – Raspberry and licorice, perhaps a hint of tobacco. Pungent.
Le Roc des Mates Pic Saint Loup 2020 | Château de Cazeneuve – Licorice, chocolate, rosemary, garrigue, and jasmine. Fresh, clean, but also spicy and peppery. Also one of the two tops of the day. I was pleased to note a certain consistency in my taste since I had marked this bottle already during another tasting.
Le Grand Pas Terrasses du Larzac 2021 | Pas de l’Escalette – Terrano liqueur, pomegranate juice, cinnamon. Savory and reminiscent of osmiza.
L’Esprit de Font Caude Montpeyroux 2018 | Alain Chabanon – Intoxicating blueberries, savory and smoky on the palate. Great fruit density and powerful tannins.
Terrasses du Larzac 2008 | Mas Jullien – Raisin bread and cinnamon. Long and extracted finish. Not much for the €50 list price.
Overall, it was a good tasting. Not being an expert in Languedoc wines, I expected fuller-bodied reds. Instead, many seemed almost ethereal but still absolutely valid. A pleasant start to the summer, a great idea for future purchases (Domaine de L’Accent), and a clearer idea of the wines from Terrasses du Larzac and Pic St Loup.
Read also the review of the “Chillen & Grillen” tasting, still at La Cave.
Autumn 2024 update: unfortunately, La Cave will be closing by the end of the year. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to dedicate another article to this historic wine bar with the attention it deserves. In the meantime, I’ve been turning to Pub Klemo for my wine adventures.
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The best wines, no boring scores
