The Region

 

There is a real buzz around the vineyards of the Languedoc now with the production of many low yielding, fantastically high quality wines made to both traditional and innovative, modern methods.

The Languedoc takes its name from the language that was spoken here, Oc, and comprises the departments of Gard, Hérault and Aude.

 

The climate here is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers, generally mild winters, and moderate springs and autumns. There are approximately 300 days of sunshine a year in the Languedoc. With its location between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean and the winds which temper the hot weather, the region is ideally suited for growing vines.

 

Areas of Appellation d?Origine Contrôllée (AOC) include, Coteaux du Languedoc, Minervois, Saint Chinian, Fitou, Corbierès.

 

In recent years there has been a return to lower yielding grape varieties such as Syrah, Cinsault and Mouvèdre and away from high yielders, such as Aramon.

 

Not only the wines of AOC status but also many of the Vin de Pays now need to be taken seriously here. Due to the restrictions with AOC status, including the grape varieties which must be used and in what quantities, a number of producers have begun opting to make excellent Vin de Pays in order to use other methods and varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.

 

 

 

 

The Producers

  

Antech Limoux

 

The producer of this wine, Antech is one of the largest family-owned domaines in Limoux and has been in the family for 6 generations.

 

Their grapes for the wines come from the family's own 60ha of vineyards in addition to 35 producers who are under long-term contract with them.

 

There is a belief amongst many that the Champagne region and Dom Perignon in particular first invented sparkling wine. However, the first textual mention of Blanquette de Limoux appeared in 1531 in papers written by Benedictine monks at   the abbey of St Hilaire, 15km from Limoux (Dom Perignon was not born until c1638). They detail the production and distribution of Saint-Hilaire's blanquette  in cork-stoppered flasks a natural in bottle refermentation will have taken place leading to the production of sparkling wine.

 

Château Beaufort

The vineyards carpet slopes which are open to a dry, often powerful wind. Small plots of vines cover the sun-drenched hills, creating a sumptuous, mosaic landscape.

The vines are cultivated to produce powerful wines which are in keeping with the landscape were they are grown.

The Lords of Beaufort who lived on these exceptional lands give their names to the best vintages: - Tristan & Beaufort. The vineyard is now run by Jerome Portal who presides over the family business and looks to mix tradition with modern techniques to create excellent wines which meet with modern tastes.

 

Château Viranel

 

This estate, in the heart of the Saint-Chinian Appellation, has been in the Bergasse family since the 16th Century. The vineyards are situated on the limestone hills and ancient terraces overlooking the Vallée de l?Orb. Nicolas Bergasse now runs the vineyard and he has found the perfect balance between continuity with the traditional wines of his father and bringing an innovative approach to new styles of wine.

Domaine de Barroubio

 

Barroubio, a small hamlet surrounded by the garrigues, on the borders of the National Park in the Haut Languedoc, has been in the Miquel family since the 15th Century. The estate is now worked using both traditional and modern techniques. The land in this remote area is primarily chalk with the occasional fleck of red sandstone.

 

Sanglier Wines also supplies Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois from Domaine de Barroubio. Perched high up in the far north-east of the Minervois, on the edge of the Saint Chinian area is the tiny appellation of Saint Jean de Minervois. The appellation is famous for its Muscat. The soil here is almost exclusively chalk and the altitude and the wind from the north play a role in producing wines of finesse and freshness.

 

It is said that Muscat has been cultivated in Saint Jean since the 10th Century and the appellation was obtained in 1948. The yield from the grapes here is tiny.

 

Domaine du Sacré Coeur

The Domaine was created in 1991 following the purchase of two vineyard properties in Assignan by Marc Caberet. His son Luc now runs the business following the completion of his wine qualifications, undertaken in Sauternes and Chile.

The vines here grow on limestone/ clay at an altitude of 270 to 350 metres in an area where only grapes, olives and the flowers of the garrigue can thrive.

L'Ormarine

The L'Ormarine Winery is in the heart of the Picpoul appellation. The appellation itself dates back to 1773 when Turgot, one of Louis XVI?s future ministers, gave permission for each barrel of the local wine to be branded with a red-hot branding iron with a sign marking the quality of the pinet vineyards. The wines the winery produces have great finesse and elegance.

 

Nominé Renard

 

The Nominé family produce their Champagnes from 20 hectares near Sézanne with Chardonnay representing 40% of the vineyard. This gives a light, elegant style of very fine champagnes as befits one of the founder members of the prestigious Champagne Club of Vignerons. Quality is very important here; they use a traditional old vertical press and age their wines in bottle longer than most. The bubbles are small and the champagne has a fine mousse. In a recent ?Decanter? tasting the Brut came third of 118 Brut NV Champagnes.