Every year, the CIVL (The Conseil Interprofessionel des Vins du Languedoc) organizes the Languedoc Ambassador Wine Tour, a trade and media tasting designed to promote the great diversity and superb quality of AOC wines found in the Languedoc wine region. This year is no exception, with fantastic wines announced today as the official CIVL Ambassador Wines of 2011.

It’s fantastic exposure for an oft-overlooked region. The wines will be served at organized events throughout the country, including Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco. In addition, several owners and winemakers  attend the events, providing additional information and insight into the area and its beautiful wine bounty to attendees as their products are sampled. It’s an experience that’s second only to actually visiting the wineries in France.

This year excites me more than previous years, as the newly established hierarchy of appellations will truly be put to the test as we see how people respond to the new organization of classifications. For a recap of the changes, check out my article on it. Will the Cru system resonate with consumers? Will it help buyers to sort through the numerous regions and sub-appellations, finally bringing some clarity to the labels and what people should expect from the wines?

I hope so. I’ve been reviewing the wines of the region for the magazine for four years now, and although I’ve seen overall interest in the wines rise, it has not yet soared to the peaks that I believe the wines merit and have the potential for. In a wine culture currently hot on interesting varieties and rising star regions, Languedoc has potential to grab the spotlight; the wines are unique, high quality and frequently available at ridiculously reasonable prices.

This concept is the Languedoc in a nutshell. Of course, there are exceptions and outliers, as there always will be, and let’s keep in mind that I’m not talking about the Vin de Pays/IGP offerings. But the Languedoc AOC options – be it just AOC Languedoc, Grand Vins du Languedoc or Grand Crus du Languedoc – are largely excellent wines at extremely reasonable retail.

So here’s to the hope that the 2011 Ambassadors will open the eyes of consumers to their region. Based on the list of winners (many of which are reviewed in our Buying Guide), I’d be shocked if they didn’t.

The 2011 Ambassadors are:

AOC Languedoc:
Château des Karantes – Blanc – Languedoc –2009
Plan de L’Homme – Sapiens – Blanc – Languedoc – 2009
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Rouge – Languedoc –2009
Jeanjean en Languedoc – Devois des Agneaux – Rouge – Languedoc – 2008

Grands Vins du Languedoc:
Vignobles Gilles Louvet – Esprit du Sud – Blanquette de Limoux NV
Bernard Delmas – Blanquette de Limoux – 2007
Domaine de Félines Jourdan – Blanc – Picpoul de Pinet – 2009
Mont Tauch – L’Ancien Comté – Blanc – Corbières – 2009
Castelmaure – Col des Vents – Rouge – Corbières – 2008
Château Ollieux Romanis – Classique – Rouge – Corbières – 2009
Domaine de Fenouillet – Réserve – Rouge – Faugères – 2006
Château du Donjon – Rosé – Minervois – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – Printemps d’Eulalie – Rosé – Minervois – 2010
Château de Paraza – Cuvée Speciale – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Vignoble du Loup Blanc – Mère Grand – Rouge – Minervois – 2007
Château La Dournie – Cuvée Elise – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2008
Domaine la Madura – Grand Vin – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2007
Château Saint Bauléry – Rouge – Saint Chinian – 2009
Clos du Gravillas – Douce Providence – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois – 2007
Les Vignerons de la Méditerranée – Les Petits Grains – Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois NV

Grands Crus du Languedoc:
Château Rives Blanques – Dédicace – Blanc – Limoux – 2008
Château Rives Blanques – Odyssée – Blanc – Limoux – 2009
Château Sainte Eulalie – La Cantilène – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2008
Gérard Bertrand – Le Viala – Rouge – Minervois la Livinière – 2007
Gérard Bertrand – La Forge – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2007
Château Ollieux Romanis – Atal Sia – Rouge – Corbières Boutenac – 2008
Château des Karantes – Diamant – Rouge – La Clape – 2006
Mas du Soleilla – Les Bartelles – Rouge – La Clape – 2008
Château de Lancyre – Coste d’Aleyrac – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Château du Lancyre – Vielles Vignes – Rouge – Pic Saint Loup – 2008
Domaine la Croix Chaptal – Les Terrasses – Rouge – Terrasses du Larzac – 2007

What do you think about the list? If you’ve had any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or what other producer or appellation you would have liked to see included?

Despite downward trends in financial markets in almost every sphere, including fine wine, the value of legendary first-growth Bordeaux, Lafite, has held strong. Not so for other first-growths. While Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild have been rocky over time, Lafite continues to climb.

According to a piece on Bloomberg.com this week, it’s called “The Lafite Effect”. The historic winery owes it all to the Asian market. The emerging Asian market sees Bordeaux, namely Lafite, as a kind of wine holy grail. As wealth increases there, demand for Lafite skyrockets. In July, the average price for 1982 Lafite for example, was at its highest ever, $3,386, up from 2007 and 2009. And it’s not just the first-growth, their second and fourth wines: Carruades de Lafite and Duhart Milon are in high demand as well.

I know that Bordeaux is highly regarded in Asia. It’s a status symbol. They even have a cartoon (Les Gouttes de Dieu/Kami No Shizuku) devoted to seeking out the best wines in the world (mainly Bordeaux). But how did Lafite gain its position in the sky? And why not any other top Bordeaux?

Moreover, can these prices continue to increase, or will the bubble burst, crashing them, down to a price that even a lowly American can afford?