Old vines in Languedoc

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

Centenarian Carignan-led cuvée at Mas Lou, with Lledoner Pelut reinforcing the matrix. Crisp red fruit and mineral lift; one of the freshest Faugères reds.

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

High-end Corbieres-Boutenac of Ollieux Romanis from manually-harvested grapes; Carignan-led with Grenache and Mourvedre, structured for long ageing.

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

Old-vine Carignan-Grenache-Mourvèdre from Brigitte Chevalier's organic Faugères vineyards at 300 metres. Elegant, fresh, mineral-driven.

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

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 · Savoury · Rustic

Carignan-led flagship of Voulte-Gasparets, named for a family ancestor. Rich expressive nose with prune and spice, peppered garrigue notes; ample, balanced palate with silky tannins.

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

Premium Minervois cuvée of Oupia from a selection of old-vine best plots, aged 20 months in Bordeaux barriques; more elegant and restrained than Tradition with similar dark berries and spicy aromas.

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

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 · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Old-vine field blend of rare Languedoc whites including Carignan Blanc, Piquepoul Gris and Terret; unusual and ageworthy organic Minervois white.

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

Pure old-vine Carignan from Aupilhac; slightly smoky with aromas of black fruit and liquorice. A reference for the variety in the Languedoc.

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

Old-vine Carignan-led entry red of the Bowens; a blend of Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Vinified in carbonic maceration for some parcels.

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 · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Funky

Field blend of nearly-forgotten Occitan varieties - Alicante (1927), Aramon (1930), Piquepoul Noir (1910), Carignan (1910); a manifesto for the region's heritage grapes.

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 · 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 · 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 · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Aromatic, full and densely-coloured Minervois with a long dark-fruit finish; Carignan-led from up-to-100-year-old vines with 40% Syrah and 10% Grenache.

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

Sister premium cuvée to Cuvee des Barons at Chateau d'Oupia, sharing the same Syrah-Carignan blend from old-vine best plots with extended barrique ageing.

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 · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Entry-level La Peira cuvée built on Cinsault and Carignan, two of the region's heritage Southern France grapes; bright, savoury and structured.

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

Fresh, vibrant 100% Mauzac. Mineral and bright with apricot and beeswax aromatics. Extra hang-time and oak give creamy mid-palate with subtle vanilla on the finish.

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

Old-vine Minervois-La Liviniere of Clos du Gravillas; Carignan-led with Syrah and Cinsault from organically-farmed parcels.

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

Old-vine Carignan-based blend from a vineyard whose Carignan vines celebrated their 100th birthday in 2004; rich confit fruit and vanilla with garrigue.

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 · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Rustic · Savoury

Old-vine pure Carignan from 1905-planted vines at Domaine Pierre Cros; fine and supple with candied plum, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.