Category: Winemakers in spotlight

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Domaine de Verchant

Aerial view of Domaine de Verchant

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If in 2010 the Domaine de Verchant distinguished itself as the first 5-star hotel in Languedoc, it is also a historic vineyard established at the gates of Montpellier. A place of hospitality and gastronomy, this site Relais & Chรขteaux stands out for the authenticity of its wines grown on the Mรฉjanelle terroir, itself an enclave of Montpellier sandstone.

A wine haven at the gates of Montpellier

Located east of Montpellier, the Domaine de Verchant has established itself in just a few years as heritage excellence in Occitania. The wine site is first and foremost historical. If it inherits its name from Pierre Verchant who acquired it in 1582, its foundation on an ancient site is attested from 1e  century. At the end of the 20th centurye century, time and phylloxera having taken their toll, the dormant property was nothing more than a shadow of itself. It owes its reawakening and contemporary development to the visionary enterprise of Chantal and Pierre Mestre. In a few years the Domaine de Verchant first transformed into a high-end hotel haven. Today classified 5-star Relais & Chรขteaux, the hotel thrives in the heart of a vineyard located in the appellation area Montpellier sandstone. The charm of the place and the landscape signature are here stamped with an authentic wine seal. Of high country luxury on the edge of the city, the Domaine de Verchant is to be ranked at the very top of the major hospital destinations in Languedoc.

Renaissance of the historic vineyard

As everywhere in Languedoc, the vine has largely established itself on the Domaine de Verchant during the XNUMXthe century. Under the aegis of Jules Leenhardt, wine merchant, the property entered an era of prosperity. In addition, the judicious choice of the Bรผlher brothers as landscape architects has permanently sealed the landscape elegance of the wine complex. The vineyard, now restored, surrounds all the refinement of the hotel structure. Because at Domaine de Verchant, the vine is not just for show: it is cultivated in the purest winemaking tradition. Originally comprising 16 hectares, the vineyard's footprint today reaches 40 hectares since the annexation of the Mazes Castle, on Saint Aunรจs. The preserved authenticity of the terroir is based on the care given to the vines. The grape varieties are primarily Languedoc: Grenache, Mourvรจdre and Syrah set the tone; the Merlot in counterpoint completes the reds. For whites, Rolle, Chardonnay and Sauvignon coexist. The terroir is that of Mรฉjanelle. Riding the Montpellier sandstone, it is distinguished by its rolled pebbles and its climate with a strong marine influence. A climatic and geological configuration which gives remarkable potential to the wines of the Verchant estate.

Wines shaped by two terroirs

The varietal diversity of the grape varieties and its distribution over two terroirs results in the maturing of complex and balanced wines in the cellar. The profiles sought are typical of Languedoc, with these unique nuances offered by the soils and micro-climate of Mรฉjanelle. On this terroir, vines grown on clay-limestone soils and pebbles commonly benefit from the temperance of the coastal breeze. It has the virtue of regulating summer heat. Resulting from the controlled maturation of the berries, the wines of Domaine de Verchant are distributed in two ranges, reflecting the two terroirs.

Domaine de Verchant: โ€œprestigeโ€ vintages

Under the label โ€œ Domaine de Verchant ยป we find the 1582 range, evocative of all the nuances of the vineyard through its complete variation in white, rosรฉ and red. This trio, produced in IGP Pays d'Oc, is completed by two reds of very beautiful expression: the vintage Marcelle, in AOP Languedoc, and the vintage quintina, typical of Sandstone of Montpellier. These wines are all evocative of the history of Domaine de Verchant. The reds, which make up the majority, draw their silky tannic structure and their balance between fruits and spices from the Montpellier terroir.

Domaine des Mazes: Languedoc fruitiness

At the same time, the estate also produces wines from Domaine des Mazes, quite naturally named Mazette!. They enrich the range of wines produced in IGP Pays d'Oc. Delicate and crunchy, this organically vinified trilogy focuses on the concentrated expression of a fruit kept in resonance with its touch of freshness. There is a fruity red, an aromatic white and a refreshing rosรฉ, all influenced by the estate's Mediterranean roots.

The cellar of Domaine de Verchant
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field Carcenac

Domaine Carcenac - Wines of Gaillac

Managed by one of the well-known families of the Gaillac appellation, the field Carcenac perfectly articulates its roots in local history with a fully asserted bias towards modernity.

A know-how inherited from seven generations

Le field Carcenac is established at Montans, a town in Gaillac already renowned during antiquity for its amphorae workshops, including theArchaeosite local bears witness today. That is to say that we are here at the heart of theAOP Gaillac, on a wine-growing territory that has all the typicalities. Better yet, the Carcenac family, perfectly united around the management of the estate, has been established there for seven generations. It is not unfair to say that she is one of the local references, her historical knowledge of the terroir being accompanied by a total mastery of Gaillac winemaking. The family spirit plays an undeniable role here: it contributes as much to the solid reputation of the house as to the constant commitment to modernity that distinguishes the wines signed Carcenac. Succeeding in responsibility to his mother Nicole, it is today Cรฉdric who ensures the development and the management of the house.

A rich grape variety spread over three terroirs

Forged over millennia by sedimentary contributions from the Tarn, the soils of field Carcenac are typical of this appellation area. Gravelly layers are dominant here and are particularly suitable for the growth of local grape varieties. The reds are in the majority there, occupying 65 hectares to date. The whites are also booming there on the 10 hectares which are currently allocated to them. The vineyard of field Carcenac first takes advantage of an attachment to notorious Gaillac grape varieties, well adapted to the local climate which oscillates between oceanic and Mediterranean influences. There are Braucol, Duras, Prunelart for the reds, as well as Mauzac and Loin de l'Oeil for the whites. The traditional grape varieties also come to support the requirement in winemaking. The Syrah, Merlot for the reds are there, as well as Sauvignon or Muscadelle for the whites. If we add to this that the plots are spread over three terroirs with nuanced substrates, we immediately grasp the flexible latitude which allows the field Carcenac to forge its wide and solid range of Gaillac wines.

An exemplary range of wines from the Gaillac terroir

Le Gaillac vineyard is historically known for its vinifications available in seven types of wine: red, rosรฉ, dry white, pearl white, sweet white, sparkling, primeur. THE field Carcenac, well established in this example, offers a complete range. Starting with a range of shades of red, at the top of which the vintage Joseph announces itself as " the essence and the quintessence of the gravel terroir. ยป Quite well-known and demonstrative, two cuvรฉes made from single varietals specific to Gaillacois complete the range of reds: the pruneart and Braucol. On the white side, the Dry white carcenac and Carcenac pearl white highlight the typicality of Loin de l'ล’il associated with the bursts of Sauvignon. On the sparkling side, Bubble Frenzy demonstrates an ancestral method typically derived from the Mauzac grape variety. What we sometimes ignore Gaillac, is that it is also one of the rare appellations that can benefit from the mention late harvest . This singularity testifies to the potential that the terroir and the local grape varieties offer to the amplitude of the whites which unfold at maturity. The vintages sweet of her et Autumn Chill bear convincing witness to this.

field Carcenac

807, Le Jauret
81600 Mountains

phone 05 63 57 57 28

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Holy Grass Estate

Domaine de l'Herbe Sainte - AOP Minervois

On the land of Minervois, Holy Grass Estate is distinguished by its wines inspired by a culture of Burgundian origin as well as by its hotel and event offer.

A Burgundian family

Descendants of winemaking families from Burgundy, Charles and Mireille Greuzard acquire their first vines in Minervois during the year 1987. After having exploited this initial plot of Carignan, located in the commune of Salรจlle d'Aude, for a few years, the winegrower's fiber then led them beyond the simple activity of viticulture. Determined, in 2001 they acquired ownership of the Holy Grass Estate located Mirepeisset. With a beautiful set of buildings overlooking the bed of the Cesse just upstream of the Canal du Midi and a notable canal bridge, this remarkable site has since become the family stronghold. Still booming, the estate uses a set of resources that require the coordination of all family skills: Christelle now finds herself in control with her parents. Indeed, the Holy Grass Estate has approximately seventy-five hectares of vines to which are added four cottages offering all comfort as well as a reception room of three hundred square meters.

Varietal diversity

True to its winemaking ancestry, the Greuzard family produced its first bottles in 2002. On this Minervois terroir often marked by a solar character, daughter and parents know how to instill Languedoc wines a distinctive personality. Their Burgundian culture has enabled them to transpose to these southern lands a way of vinifying which gives as its first requirement the preservation of varietal expressions. It is in this spirit that they remodeled the grape varieties of the Holy Grass Estate by diversifying the palette of whites and reds. For the former, Chardonnay occupies a place of choice, and rubs shoulders with Sauvignon, Colombard and Viognier. It is understandable that the aromatic potential is one of the sources of inspiration in the cellar. For the reds, Syrah was essential like Cinsault and Grenache, but no surprise when you know the spirit of the house, to see them coexist with Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan or even Pinot noir.

The fruit as an expression

Au Holy Grass Estate There is therefore, in every sense of the word, a family coherence. This is the case with wines, where each cuvรฉe of the same range is conceived in its singularity and its own character. It is entirely appropriate here to speak of expressive palettes, both for white wines and for red or rosรฉ wines. The place given toIGP Pays d'Oc which echoes theAOP Minervois is the clearest clue. The appellation is distinguished in particular by the flexibility and latitude it offers to single-varietal vinification. Range Harmony demonstrates this, with his Chardonnay, his Pinot noir, his Viognier or even his Malbec. Completing the set, the Artemisia cuvรฉe brings to the range the most seductive unveilings of a beautifully aged Syrah. From a domain of Minervois we also expect a strong expression of the terroir. This is how the skilful game of maturing and blending produced in AOP gives substance to the cuvรฉes Tradition, Premium ou Ambrosia. But we must not forget that the Holy Grass Estate also gives a large place to the reception, which is organized around the four top-of-the-range lodgings and the vast reception room. This festive and hotel component is certainly the inspiring activity that gave birth to two unique cuvรฉes: the first, Divine Star, honors the bubbles in white and rosรฉ; the second, Noble gold, exalts a raisined Chardonnay.

Holy Grass Estate

Route de Ginestas
11120 Mirepeisset

phone 04 68 46 30 37

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