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.
Cuvées
Atal Sia
4.6
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 · 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.
Carlan
4.8
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 · 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.
Cuvee 400eme
4.7
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.
Cuvee Sylla
4.6
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.
Felgaria
4.7
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.
Grand Vin Blanc
4.5
Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury
Bourboulenc-led La Clape white from Hospitalet; the variety is the emblem of the appellation. Part-barrel, part-tank vinification preserves freshness.
Grand Vin Rouge
4.6
Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Savoury · Elegant
Grand Vin red of Hospitalet from the best plots of Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache Noir; each variety vinified separately and blended in February before 12-month barrel ageing.
Jadis
4.7
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.
L'Ancely
4.7
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.
La Boda
4.7
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.
La Grenadière
4.6
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 · 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 · Savoury
80% Syrah from old altitude vines on Faugères schist. Aged 18 months in barrel with 30-40% new oak. Spicy, structured, classic.
Les Combariolles
4.7
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.
Les Planels
4.6
Dry · Full-bodied · Firm tannin · Medium acidity · Bold · Savoury
Pure Syrah from Chateau Maris' top plots, aged 12 months in oak then bottled unfined and unfiltered; terrific aromatics with smoked beef and bacon-fat character.
Les Secrets
4.6
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.
Lo Vielh
4.7
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.
Maghani
4.7
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 · 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 · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury
Multi-variety white from twenty grapes including Viognier, Chardonnay, Petit Manseng and Chenin (~90% of the blend) with eight secondary varieties; rich, layered and ageworthy.
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.
Matissat
4.7
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.
Montcalmes Rouge
4.7
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.
Sang du Calvaire
4.6
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.
Terret Blanc
4.5
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.
Valinière
4.8
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.