Tasted from tank (at the new Montner facility of Magrez, who also markets the wine) their 2007 Coteaux du Languedoc features a surprisingly high 40% Carignan, with Syrah and Grenache, matured entirely in new barrels. Scented with cooked, ripe black fruits, this offers a polished, creamy feel and impressive amplitude, with bitter suggestions of dark chocolate and fruit pit offering the only significant counterpoint to sheer richness of fruit and seasoning of oak. It finishes sweetly, but with a very faintly gum-numbing combination of alcohol and wood tannins, and overall wants for personality. I certainly couldn’t have placed it remotely, tasted blind – although one can tell that low yields and a lot of craftsmanship are involved. I would hesitate to put money on this wine’s aging potential: I found the 2006 and 2005 considerably more astringent, and drying out a bit on account of their wood when tasted side by side, and a faintly amber note on the rim of those wines was somewhat ominous.Le Bien Decide is a joint, Aniane-based project – one of a number – between actor Gerard Depardieu and Bernard Magrez (about whose many other southern French wine ventures, see under his name in this report).Importer: MHW, Ltd., Manhasset, NY; tel. (516) 869 9170

From vines averaging 40 years in age, this blend of 36% Syrah, 35% Carignan, and 29% Grenache reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as a big blue and black fruit-scented bouquet exhibiting hints of pepper, acacia flowers, and spice box. Medium-bodied and pure with considerable elegance and finesse, it should drink well for 7-8 years. Sadly, at this time there is no American importer for this wine, although Bernard Magrez's international connections should ensure that these cuvees end up in the better restaurants and wine shops of not only France, but Western Europe. Hopefully, an innovative American importer will see fit to give American consumers access to these intriguing efforts.This wine will appear under the name Gerard Depardieu. Quantities for his wines range from 400-600 cases, and the debut vintage (2002) will hit the marketplace in fall, 2004.