Wine Review: J M Cazes Domaine de l’Ostal Grand Vin Cru La Liviniere 2023 – Emirates Economy Class

On the first leg of my return trip to Auckland, from Rome via Dubai and Brisbane, flying Economy in an Emirates Boeing 777, I was again very impressed by a southern French red wine being served – J M Cazes Domaine de l’Ostal Grand Vin Cru La Liviniere 2023. I feel this wine could slot into the Premium Economy or possibly even Business Class list. Recording tastings in Economy Class is not easy so please forgive the quality of the recording.

Domaine de l’Ostal is owned by the Famille J M Cazes – Jean-Michel Cazes was a highly respected owner of famous Pauillac 5th Growth Chateau Lynch Bages. He was an influential figure in Bordeaux between the 1980s and the early 2000s. Jean Michel’s grandfather and father had respectively acquired Chateau Lynch Bages and Chateau Les Ormes de Pez for the family. Jean Michel began working with his father in 1973. From 1986 he was also Managing Director of AXA Millesimes, being responsible for improving the quality of wines like the Second Growth Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron and the Sauternes Chateau Suduiraut.

Between 1988 and 2002 Jean-Michel added Chateau Villa Bel Air in Graves, the hotel at Chateau Cordellian Barges, the Michel Lynch brand, Roquette e Cazes in Portugal, a share in the Tapanapa winey and Domaine L’Ostal to the family’s portfolio. Jean-Michel handed control of the business to his son Jean Charles Cazes in 2006. Jean Michel Cazes passed in 2023 – Domaine l’Ostal in Minervois is part of his legacy.

In the ancient Oc language, “ostal” denotes both a family group and the house where they live. In 2002 Jean-Michel Cazes created Domaine de l’Ostal by buying and amalgamating two adjacent domaines In the heart of La Livinière.

The vines grow on the slopes of the Petit Causse, an exceptional terroir in a protected environment, among green oaks and cypress trees, at the foot of the Montagne Noire. The estate was completely restructured, improving drainage and planting varieties according to the potential and terroir of each parcel. The vineyard lies on a single, south-facing, hillside plot. The soils are a mosaic of shallow marly top-soils over chalky sandstone.

In 2003 the family purchased a former tile factory Tuilerie Saint-Joseph, a 19th Century building, which became the domaine’s winery. The first wines were bottled here in 2004. The estate gained HVE3 certification in 2017, recognizing the estate’s commitment to biodiversity and environmentally friendly practices

Learn more about this wine and where to buy it by following this link to the Wine-Searcher website: https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/cazes+dom+de+l+ostal+grand+minervois+la+livinier+languedoc+roussillon+france/2023?referring_site=DCA

▶️ CHAPTERS:
0:00 J M Cazes Domaine de l’Ostal Grand Vin Cru La Liviniere 2023 wine label
0:10 Introduction to a tasting recorded on an Economy Class flight with Emirates
0:33 Really impressed by the wine offered
0:43 Wine produced by Familie JM Cazes
0:57 Background to Jean-Michel Cazes
1:13 Jean-Michel’s grandfather buys Chateau Lynch Bages in 1933
1:20 Jean-Michel’s father buys Chateau Les Ormes de Pez in 1940
1:33 Jean-Michel joins the business in 1973
1:43 Jean-Michel becomes MD of AXA Millesemes in 1986
2:00 Bought Chateau Villa Bel Air in Graves in 1988
2:10 Started an Hotel at Chateau Cordeillan Barges in 1989
2:20 Other ventures
2:30 2006 hands over the business to his son Jean-Charles
2:50 Bought Chateau Haut Batailley in 2017
3:07 Created Domaine de l’Ostal in 2002
3:17 Meaning of Ostal
3:27 Bought and combined two neighboring domaines
3:37 Foundation of the La Liviniere Cru
3:47 Size of the domaine
3:57 JM Cazes – a pioneering early external investor in Minervois
4:14 Vineyard location and aspect
4:26 Planting matches each varietiey to the most suitable soils
4:36 Converted an old tile factory into a winery
4:56 Soils
5:06 First wines bottled 2004
5:16 HVE certified in 2017
5:26 La Liviniere gets its own appellation in 2022
5:39 WINEMAKING – hand picked and carefully sorted
4:49 Picked and vinified by parcel in concrete and stainless-steel tanks
5:59 Length of maceration
6:13 Blend
6:23 12 months ageing in seasoned French oak barrels
6:33 Impressive to find this in Economy Class
6:44 Apology for video quality
7:08 Introduction to the flight and Domaine de l’Ostal Grand Vin Cru La Liviniere 2023
7:39 La Liviniere promoted from top Cru in Minervois to its own appellation
7:57 TASTING – Appearance
8:10 Aromas
8:39 Palate
9:37 Conclusions
10:09 Score
10:36 Thanks, closing remarks and sign-off

▶️ Follow this link to watch my tasting of Chapoutier’s Domaine de Bila Haut Occultum Lapidem Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2022: https://youtu.be/GNjP3_P8gtQ

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