Contemplative in Languedoc

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Domaine de l'Aigle's flagship Chardonnay from the highest south-facing clay-limestone parcel. Decanter-rated as one to watch among biodynamic Chardonnays.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

The estate red of Mas Jullien, drawing from the village vineyards around Jonquieres; mid-weight Languedoc with garrigue depth, fine grain and a savoury finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The single-parcel cuvée from a sandstone-and-schist terroir east of Jonquieres; precise, structured and built to age 10 to 15 years from a top vintage.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Wild Syrah-led Berlou schist cuvée; a micro-production of about 1,200 bottles in the best vintages. Sweet spice from the Orient and the New World.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Syrah-led flagship of Ollier-Taillefer, four-grape blend. Aged in French oak with only 15% new wood to preserve terroir over wood character.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Syrah-led mid-tier Saint-Chinian from Mas Champart's argilo-calcareous Bousquet plateau. Precise and controlled style; rewards 90 RVF points.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Mas Champart's flagship cuvee since 2000: 65% Mourvedre from massale selection originating at Domaine Tempier (Bandol), blended with 70-110 year-old Carignans and Grenache, aged 85% in demi-muid.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Rare 100% Syrah parcel cuvée of La Negly from a tiny plot. Single-parcel yield of 10-15 hl/ha, with retail prices typically EUR 180-350 per bottle.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Copa Santa hails from the historic Méjanelle terroir near Montpellier - Syrah-Grenache aged in barrel for the long haul.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Anniversary cuvée marking four centuries of Pennautier history (the estate dates to 1620); Atlantic-Mediterranean blend with extended barrique ageing.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Cuvee exception of Daumas Gassac, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the original 1972 vines. Produced in 2,000 bottles per top vintage; structured with backbone of freshness and powerful tannins.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

The flagship 'mythic' cuvée of Borie de Maurel; Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre with structured tannin and long ageing potential.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Gabrielle de Spinola is Château Coujan's barrel-aged flagship Saint-Chinian. Syrah-led with Grenache and Mourvèdre; long-aged in French oak.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Hortus's barrel-fermented flagship white, a five-grape blend that builds layers of stone fruit and creamy oak over Pic Saint-Loup limestone minerality.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Mourvedre-Syrah from Hortus's two opposing terroirs at the foot of the limestone cliffs. The Orliac family's flagship cuvee at Domaine de l'Hortus since the early 1990s.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Rich, full-bodied Chenin Blanc with extreme elegance and distinctive minerality. The most expensive Chenin Blanc in Limoux. Limoux is the only AOC Chenin in the South of France.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine Carignan-led entry red from biodynamic icon Didier Barral. From 40-70-year-old vines on Faugères schist; aged unoaked in cement and steel.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Cébène's flagship and the only cuvée to age in oak. Mourvèdre-led for the long haul, from north-facing Faugères schist parcels.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Prestige cuvée of Hospitalet from a rocky parcel dominated by wind and sun; old vines of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre on the La Clape limestone.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Mid-tier biodynamic Faugères from Léon Barral, named Jadis (formerly). Carignan-Syrah-Grenache from schist; cement and old oak. A cellar wine in the making.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Mourvedre-dominated prestige cuvée of La Negly from very old vines; parcel selection yielding tiny harvests of 10-15 hl/ha. Named for the chateau's historic 18th-century identity.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Balanced and expressive top cuvée of Aupilhac; cinnamon, white pepper and ginger notes with raspberry and gooseberry fruit. Built to age.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Mas Bruguière's flagship Pic Saint-Loup red. Syrah-led with Mourvèdre lending structure, aged in French oak. Built for the long haul.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

La Part des Anges (the angels' share) is Grangette's oak-aged Picpoul. Aromatic complexity from barrel ageing; preserved lemon, acacia, vanilla touch.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Flagship Terrasses du Larzac of La Peira, a 60/40 Syrah-Grenache blend; full-bodied with smoked black fruit, ground pepper, graphite, garrigue, lavender and truffle notes, sweet integrated tannin and a long mineral finish per producer tasting notes spanning 2005-2020 vintages.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The prestige Terrasses du Larzac of Sauvageonne; Syrah-Grenache-Mourvedre selection from the highest-quality parcels with extended barrique ageing.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Syrah-led flagship of Bergerie du Capucin, aged 16-18 months in 400-litre barrels. Generous and structured, with dark fruit, vanilla and cocoa register.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Grenache-led second wine of La Peira with 25% Syrah and smaller parts of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan; fragrant, fine, structured.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Domaine de la Vieille's barrel-aged Pic Saint-Loup, named for the Visigoth cemetery discovered on the parcel. Ripe fruit, leather and menthol; built for the cellar.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Syrah-led cuvée from Les Bancèls - the old Occitan word for the terraces. North-facing 1ha vineyard blended with south-facing Mourvèdre. The symbol of Cébène.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

80% Syrah from old altitude vines on Faugères schist. Aged 18 months in barrel with 30-40% new oak. Spicy, structured, classic.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Parcel-selection top cuvée from the rocky Combariolles terroir; intense aromas of dried flowers, cinnamon and quetsche with structured tannin.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Syrah-led cuvée on Crès terroir - round pebbles with neutral pH, excellent draining quality. Built for the cellar.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

The flagship red of Château de Lascaux. Syrah-led Pic Saint-Loup magnified through extended barrel ageing. Built for the cellar.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Grenache-led Saint-Chinian from biodynamic schist parcels at altitude on steep hillsides. Velvety mouthfeel despite concentration and character.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

A confidential cuvée trio of single-plot Syrah selections from three distinctive Lascaux parcels. Limited production; magnified plot expression.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Old-vine Carignan-Grenache from Blandine's Tonillières plot, planted to 60-year-old Carignan. Concrete and old-oak ageing preserves freshness and old-vine depth.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Three-grape Limoux Blanc from the Roquetaillade terroir at the foothills of the Pyrenees. Old vines (50 years) and younger plantings; exceptional ageing potential.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

Old-vine (1911-planted) pure Carignan from Clos du Gravillas - Lo Vielh means 'the old one'; smoky, liquorice-tinged and structured for long ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

La Madura's barrel-fermented white. Roussanne-led four-grape blend; saline, layered, fine textural depth.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Flagship Grand Vin from La Madura, blending Syrah-Mourvèdre-Grenache from the estate's best parcels. Bordeaux-trained Cyril Bourgne's Bordelaise approach to Saint-Chinian.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Prestige cuvée of Domaine Canet Valette, named after the medieval Arab poet Omar Khayyam who celebrated wine. Concentrated, spice-led, structured.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Top Corbieres cuvée of Domaine Sainte Croix made from old-vine Carignan, Grenache and Syrah; built for long ageing with depth and savoury core.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

Olivier Jullien's white is a field blend of old-vine Languedoc whites with Chenin; saline, savoury and built to age unusually long for the region.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Rustic

Top-tier Mas Olivier Grande Réserve, the cooperative's flagship Faugères. Extended barrel-ageing; structured and warm.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Aime Guibert's pioneering Bordeaux-style red from the Gassac valley, ~80% Cabernet Sauvignon with twenty other rare varieties. The wine that built the IGP Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Bold

Rare 100% Mourvedre cuvée from the Bois de Pauliau lieu-dit at La Peira; tiny production, structured and savoury.

Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Frederic Pourtalie's single-cuvée red built on Syrah from rolled-pebble and limestone scree terroirs; generous yet precise Languedoc, never violent.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Contemplative

Old-vine Carignan from Faugères schist, named Nos Racines (our roots). Reflects the heritage of Carignan as the soul of the appellation.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Rives-Blanques' showpiece Burgundian-style Chardonnay. Picked from south-facing high-elevation parcels at Cépie; partial oak fermentation.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Rustic

Mourvèdre-dominant cuvée from due-east-facing deep scree soils. The flagship long-ageing red of Cazeneuve; built for over a decade.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

Biodynamic Terret-dominant white from Domaine Léon Barral. Now sought after by orange-wine lovers; Languedoc heritage variety on Faugères schist.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Sieur d'Arques' Toques et Clochers single-terroir Chardonnay (the Haute-Vallee parcel of the four-terroir auction series). The Haute-Vallee plot is the highest-altitude, coolest-climate of the four.

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Five-grape blend traditional to Saint-Chinian. Refined, concentrated, with silky tannin and garrigue lift. Long maceration (70-90 days).

Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Savoury

Domaine Léon Barral's flagship cuvée. 80% Mourvèdre dominant from 15-30 year-old vines on 4.3 hectares of schist; aged in barrel (10% new). Built for two decades.