From: Pays d’Oc, France
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Taste: The Cabernet Sauvignon shows restrained black cherry fruit, combined with classic secondary aromas of graphite and dry stones. It has full weight, without being heavy, and a firm, solid structure with excellent length. A very satisfying wine that is simply delicious to drink. Fruit for the Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from two sites: one in the foothills of the Cévennes mountains in the eastern Languedoc, which gives it a spicy fruitiness; and from the Aude valley in the western Languedoc, which gives structure, length and a smoky note to the aroma.
Pairing: This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with a wide range of dishes, including grilled, bbq’d or roasted meats. It also goes well with strong cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese. Other great matches include serving alongside a beef or lamb stew with red wine sauce, empanadas or duck confit.
It would also pair well with Italian dishes like spaghetti bolognese or ossobuco, as well as hearty stews and casseroles from other parts of Europe. For more vegetable-oriented pairings, this wine would pair well with grilled or roasted vegetables such as eggplant, portobello mushrooms, or zucchini. Roasted root vegetables, like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes, especially when seasoned with Mediterranean spices, are delicious and satisfying next to this charming little red. It also goes well with hearty bean dishes such as chili or lentil stew (we’re sharing a pairing inspired by this below!), as well as vegetarian lasagna or mushroom risotto.
Greek Lentil Pie
By Martha Rose Shulman
About. The French expression sans-souci means “without a care.” It is also the name of Frederick the Great’s famous royal palace in Potsdam, Germany, where Ernst Loosen’s forebear, Peter Joseph Lenné, had his greatest triumph as a landscape architect. It was great-great-uncle Peter’s sense of beauty, elegance and grace that inspired Ernst to cultivate Sanssouci — a selection of deliciously carefree wines from the south of France.
Sanssouci wines are produced by Laurent Delaunay at his Abbotts & Delaunay winery in the Languedoc region, near Carcassone. Ernst Loosen started working with Laurent over a decade ago to produce affordable, high-quality red wines that he could import to the German market. Centrally located in the Aude valley, between the appellations of Corbières, Minervois, Faugères and Limoux, Laurent has extensive fruit sources throughout the region.
