Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault18 haFounded 1992Marc ValetteWinemaker Marc ValetteORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian organic estate founded in 1992 by Marc Valette at Cessenon-sur-Orb, 18 hectares planted 80 percent to Syrah and worked with very late harvest dates, ECOCERT certified since 1999.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Cessenon-sur-Orb by appointment
Signature wines: canet-valette-mille-et-une-nuits, canet-valette-le-vin-maghani, canet-valette-une-et-mille-nuits
Tip: Maghani is the Syrah-led cellar cuvee; the wines are picked at over-ripeness and have a distinctive black-fig profile.
Saint-Chinian AOC and IGP Coteaux de MurvielMourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc54 haFounded 1868Guy familyWinemaker Florence GuyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian family estate at Murviel-les-Beziers established by the Guy family in 1868, 54 hectares of clay-limestone vineyard at 140 metres elevation, certified organic since 2008 under the Florence Guy generation.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Murviel-les-Beziers by appointment
Signature wines: coujan-bois-joli, coujan-rapsodie, coujan-tradition
Tip: The Bois Joli blanc (Roussanne-Grenache Blanc) is a benchmark Saint-Chinian white; the estate also produces olive oil from the border olive trees.
Corbieres AOC and Corbieres-Boutenac AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault100 haPierre GabisonORGANIC CERTIFIEDCorbieres-Boutenac
Corbieres organic pioneer at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, 100 hectares of vines inside a 600-hectare property, in organic agriculture from 1958 and fully certified since 1987, taken over by Pierre Gabison in 2005.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, year-round
Signature wines: caraguilhes-classique, caraguilhes-prestige, caraguilhes-solus
Tip: The Solus old-vine Carignan is the heritage bottling; Caraguilhes Prestige is the Corbieres-Boutenac flagship.
Corbieres-Boutenac AOC and Corbieres AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, CinsaultReverdy familyWinemaker Laurent ReverdyCorbieres-Boutenac
Seven-generation Corbieres-Boutenac estate at the Gasparets hamlet, run by the Reverdy family - Patrick alongside sons Laurent and Paul - with the Romain Pauc old-vine Carignan as the cellar flagship.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Gasparets, Boutenac year-round
Signature wines: voulte-gasparets-romain-pauc, voulte-gasparets-cuvee-reservee, voulte-gasparets-vieilles-vignes
Tip: Romain Pauc (named for the founder of the modern era) is the cellar Corbieres-Boutenac; the Cuvee Reservee is the AOC Corbieres value bottling.
Corbieres AOC and IGP Pays d'OcCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Viognier, Roussanne17 haFounded 1989Leferrer familyWinemaker Herve LeferrerCorbieres-Boutenac
Burgundy-trained estate founded in 1989 by Herve Leferrer (former INAO official and Domaine de la Romanee-Conti director), 17 hectares of Corbieres at 300 metres altitude in a heart of the appellation surrounded by garrigue.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Ferrals-les-Corbieres by appointment
Signature wines: grand-cres-rouge, grand-cres-blanc, grand-cres-majeure
Tip: Cuvee Majeure is the structured Corbieres rouge that benefits most from cellar age.
Corbieres AOC and Corbieres-Boutenac AOCCarignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne75 haBories familyWinemaker Pierre BoriesORGANIC CERTIFIEDCorbieres-Boutenac
Corbieres-Boutenac organic estate at Montseret on Route Departementale 613, run by Pierre Bories with a vineyard restaurant (La Touketa) on the property.
Tasting: Cellar tastings and on-site bistro La Touketa at Montseret
Signature wines: ollieux-romanis-cuvee-classique, ollieux-romanis-or-de-la-touketa, ollieux-romanis-prestige-boutenac
Tip: The Prestige Boutenac (Carignan-Grenache-Syrah) is the cellar bottling; the on-site La Touketa restaurant pairs the wines with regional food.
