Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, CinsaultFounded 1990Cathy Planes and Jean-Francois Izarn familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian organic estate at Causses-et-Veyran north of Beziers, working three terroir-specific cuvees (Les Cres on rolled pebbles, Les Schistes on schist, Les Terres Blanches on clay-limestone) since 1990.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Causses-et-Veyran by appointment
Signature wines: vitarele-les-cres, vitarele-les-schistes, vitarele-les-terres-blanches
Tip: Each of the three terroir cuvees is bottled separately, which makes Borie La Vitarele the cleanest vertical of Saint-Chinian's three soil types in a single estate.
Saint-Chinian-Berlou AOC and Saint-Chinian AOCSyrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Roussanne, MarsanneMartin familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Chinian
Saint-Chinian-Berlou estate on the schist hillsides above the Orb river at Berlou, certified organic and producing both Saint-Chinian-Berlou cru reds and Saint-Chinian whites.
Tasting: Cellar tastings at Berlou, by appointment
Signature wines: cambis-carnet-de-voyage, cambis-kalliope
Tip: Carnet de Voyage is the Berlou-cru flagship Syrah-Grenache; Kalliope is the rare Saint-Chinian blanc.
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.
