Located north of the Minervois appellation , Domaine La Rouviole enjoys an environment whose botanical richness and belonging to the Minervois La Livinière cru suggest a highly qualitative winemaking potential.
At the foot of the Petit Causse
Domaine la Rouviole clings to the first foothills of the Haut Languedoc Regional Natural Park, overlooking the village of Siran to the north . La Livinière, the small town that gave its name to the Minervois La Livinière appellation , is only two kilometers away as the crow flies. Rooted in the terroir of this exceptional appellation, the vineyard takes its name from the Rouviole stream that once flowed here. On its northern edge, the estate rests on the southern slopes of the Petit Causse . This plateau is characterized by the botanical diversity of its garrigue, which slopes down to the valley below. Here, the vines are nestled among stands of thyme, lavender, rosemary, almond trees, fig trees, cherry trees, holm oaks, and olive trees. The average altitude of the clay-limestone aquifers from which the vineyard draws its sustenance is approximately two hundred meters. Here, the sunny character of the terroir is tempered by the coolness that descends from the surrounding hills at nightfall.
On the land of La Livinière
Of the 26 hectares of vines nestled within 10 hectares of garrigue typical of the Petit Causse region, the dominant grape varieties are Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan. The first two contribute particularly to the structural identity of Minervois wines , and even more so to those meeting the quality requirements of the Minervois La Livinière appellation . The estate's ampelographic inventory also includes Cinsault for red wines, as well as Grenache Blanc and Rolle, which open up new possibilities for white wine production. On the vineyard, which rises between 200 and 250 meters in altitude, the highest plots are reserved for the production of red wines crafted according to the most demanding standards of the La Livinière appellation.
On the wine list
The wines' profile has been shaped over the years since Franck Léonor joined Domaine La Rouviole . Indeed, after joining his uncles in 1998, he played an early role in the vineyard's organic conversion, which has been certified organic since 2011. As for the spirit of the wines, most reflect his passion for chess, which inspires their names. This is the case with Le Coup du Berger (The Shepherd's Trick), the inaugural wine, an IGP Pays d'Oc blend of Cinsault, Carignan, and Syrah. Moving into Minervois , the Baroque cuvée focuses on Syrah, supported by Grenache and Cinsault. Embracing spontaneity, A Tempo aims to express the essence of Minervois, where Syrah and Grenache evoke the garrigue and the mineral foundation of the terroir. In the same vein, La Régence uses the same duo and adds a touch of Cinsault, further enhancing its concentration and complexity. As for the exceptional wine, it takes its name from the nymph Caïssa , a reference to William Jones's poem: Caissa or The Game of Chess . Built on a blend of Syrah and Grenache, acquiring balance and complexity through barrel aging, it stands at Domaine La Rouviole as the finest expression of the Minervois La Livinière appellation.