Minervois
Red, rosé, white A.O.C. and sweet muscat since 1985
Web site : http://www.le-minervois.com/products/aoc.php
History of the Minervois
The traces of man go a long way back in the past, a
troglodyte population lived here a long time before our
era. With the arrival of the Roman empire, the area opened
up to widespread exterior influences. The vines in the
Minervois developed initially in the plain and was
subsequently planted in the higher grounds of the Minervois
by monks who undertook the development of the Minervois.
The Minervois suffered the devastation of the crusades led
by Simon de Montfort and the tragically famous siege of
Minerve- in the heart of the Minervois, an important site
during the cathar conflicts.With the major economic
development during the XVIII century, the Midi Canal,
created by Pierre Paul Riquet, had a great influence on the
Minervois (classified World Heritage by UNESCO). The
Minervois wine producers developed a policy of quality from
the 1950 's and obtained A.O.C. classification in 1985,
making the Minervois one of the largest wine producing
regions in the Aude.
Appellation production area of the
Minervois
The Minervois territory is a vast amphitheatre lined by the Midi canal to the south and the Black Mountain to the north which stretches from the higher areas of Narbonne west to the surroundings of Carcassonne.
Geology of the Minervois
Four rivers, the Clamoux, the Argent Double, the Ognon and the Cesse flow southwards down the Black Mountain towards the Minervois region of the Aude and have created a series of gravel, sandstone, schist or limestone terraces. To the North-West Minervois, near Caunes-Minervois, pink marble and veins of schist dominate. At a higher altitude the vast Causses (dry scrubland) are cut into by deep gorges.
Climate of the Minervois
A dominant Mediterranean climate with oceanic influences in the Western part (Clamoux and the "Côtes Noires" or "black slopes") and a colder winter climate on the Causses located at an altitude above 200 m.
Grape Varieties of the Minervois
Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Piquepoul for the red.Marsanne, Roussanne, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache, Vermentino and small grain Muscat for the white.
Vinification of the Minervois
Red: traditional vinifications of unbroken grapes after destalking.
Rosé: Saignée technique with a predominance of Syrah.
White: direct pressing with a varying proportion of blends, vinified in barrels. St Jean de Minervois, Muscat : vin doux naturel (sweet aperitif wine).
Some
of the larger Vineyards of the Minervois
Château Coupe Roses
Chateau Coupe Roses is a long established
domaine of the Minervois located in La Caunette, high on
the cliffs in the more north-easterly part of the Minervois
appellation. It has been in the hands of the de Calvez
family since 1614, but Francoise de Calvez and her husband,
Pascal Frissant, have only been in control since 1987.
Together they have revitalised the estate, with a doubling
of vineyard area, a new cellar and a move away from the
dreaded en vrac to an almost entirely bottled production.
Web-site http://www.tire-bouteilles.com/vigneron_couperoses.htm
Domaine Le
Cazal
A wonderfully run and marketed vineyard in the Minervois
that has great heritage and quality. Time makes excellent
wines, which is proved here in this vineyard. They made
traditional wines- typical from the region, but with great
finesse,as well as exceptional wines that are in the top 10
wines from the Minervois.
Domaine de
Barroubio
The plateau of Barroubio can be found in
the department of Hérault within the commune of Saint Jean
de Minervois.Among the 60-hectare of the property, 27 are
dedicated to the vineyard. The muscat petit grain, with 17
hectares, takes the largest part. The other varieties of
vines - Grenache, carignan and syrah - are used to
elaborate the red and rosé wines. Web-site
http://www.barroubio.fr/
Domaine Pierre Cros
Very old vines,
named one of the "best discoveries" in 2003, has his
Carrignan vines dating back to 1905. The Languedoc is very
proud to have such a wine maker in its midst. Parker guides
are often giving him marks in the high 90's. A real gem in
the Minervois, Languedoc. Web-site
http://www.maisondesvins.be/domaine-pierre-cros.php
Château Mirausse
Very elegant wines coming from this Carcassonne area of the
Minervois, Languedoc. He makes very balanced wines- at
times, big heavy reds that have great finesse and long
after taste. A beautiful Chateau to visit and a great wine
maker. Bliss.
http://www.chantovent.com/fr/vins/fiche-vin.php?vi=85
Château
Villerambert
Château Villerambert-Julien draws its
name from the Latin Villa Ramberti, which was situated on
an ancient site surrounded by dolmens and menhirs close to
the Via Domitia. When the soil was first deeply tilled
Gallo-Roman amphorae and pottery were found.
One must go back to 1231 to find written evidence of a
vineyard at Villerambert under the feudal rule of Pierre
Vidal de Villerambert, Lord of the Manor.
The family Balby de Vernon who remained the owners until
1858 when the Julien family, whose origins go back to the
16th Century in the region of Minerve, bought the Château,
built in its present form in the 16th Century.
Thus it is the 5th generation since the Château was
acquired that is running today – Michel JULIEN. Going back
in time, we find Etienne who was responsible for the
purchase, then Marcel, George, his wife Anne Marie who took
over the running of the property on the death of her
husband, then Marcel, their son, who is still active and
who during the 1950s built the foundations for the great
vineyard of today.
Marcel JULIEN was the first family member to set about the
rebirth of quality on the Estate and then, Michel, who
since 1989 has continued and expanded the improvement in
quality to give to the Château its national and
international allure, followed Marcel’s original plans.
http://www.villerambert-julien.com/history.php?menu=1
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Gaignon ,conscious of the potential of this clayey
chalky soil located in altitude (230m) and of the
requirement to produce wines of quality, turned his
efforts turned to a work attentive and looked after
vines by respecting the characteristics of many
planted type of vines(Alicante, Syrah, Carignan,
Cinsault, Grenache, Tempranillo, Chenanson, Terret
Blanc, Muscat with small grains and Grenache Gris).
Hand picking allows perfectly ripe grapes to come
to the cellar where they are treated smoothly
through the process. For the respect of the grape
our choice of equipment of wine making wanted to be
adapted, with wood tank of 50 hl, small concrete
tanks. Our wines, AOC Minervois and Local wines,
are the reflection of what this area, dedicated
since of the centuries to the vine growing, can
allow hoping to obtain by an attentive and looked
after work. Finally, our wines are stored to bring
out their rich and voluptuous nature, in tanks,
barrels and half muids where they are quietly
perfected in order to reach the plenitude of the
promises given at the time of harvest.
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The following section are links to Winemakers with
web-sites and well worth contacting
Domaines Camberaud et Sonnac, Mailhac
Chantovent , Minervois
Clos de Marbier, Caunes Minervois
Clos de Gravillas, St-Jean-de-Minervois
Domaine de Courbissac, Cesseras
Domaine des 3 Anges, Azille
Domaine des Maels, Argens Minervois
Domaine Malys-Anne, Caunes Minervois
Massamier La Mignarde, Pepieux
L'Oustal Blanc, Creissan
Les Trois Blazons, Azillanet
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Chateau du Donjon, Bagnoles
Chateau Fabas-Augustin, Laure Minervois
Chateau des Adouzes, Roquessels
Chateau de Paraza, Paraza
Chateau Pautard, Peyriac
Chateau de Pennautier, Pennautier
Domaine des Tourels, Tourouzelle
Chateau Villerambert Julien, Caunes Minervois
Domaine St-Michel Archange, Bize-Minervois
Small Wine Producers in the West and East
of the Minervois, without Web sites.
Well worth tracking them down for some
fascinating,correctly priced wines
ENTER here for the listings of Minervois WEST
ENTER here for the listings of Minervois EAST
Useful links:
Minervois Wine Information http://www.terroir-france.com/region/lr_minervois.htm
Le Minervois- historic region in the Languedoc http://www.le-minervois.com/products/aoc.php
C0-Ops in the Minervois http://www.languedocliving.com/Languedoc/articles/wine-1.php
More Wine reviews from the Minervois http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/languedoc2.shtml
Cool article about Wines from the Minervois http://www.ideamarketers.com/?Wines_from_the_Minervois&articleid=328596
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