Region: Minervois, Languedoc, France

Varietal: Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan

Tasting Notes: The wine is savory with notes of garrigue - Mediterranean bushes characteristic of the area. Medium-bodied but very easy to drink and relatively low in alcohol content. Definitely not a warm mouthfeel, but rather refreshing.

Producer: After finishing winemaking school, Benjamin spent some time working in a conventional winery. In 2004, however, he met natural winemaker Jean-Baptiste Senat and began working with him in his cellar. He was influenced by Senat’s ideas and techniques and Senat became his mentor. In 2007, at the age of 27, he started his own domaine, purchasing 6 hectares of vines in and around Caunes-Minervois, in the Languedoc region. He only works with local Languedoc varieties: Terret Gris, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah. He began working the land organically at the very beginning and now incorporates Biodynamic practices also. Since 2011 Benjamin has been certified organic, and his holdings has increased in size to 16 hectares under vine. 

Vineyard & Winemaking: The vines are aged between 30 -50 years at 250-400 meters altitude. All vineyards are goblet bush vine plantings except the Syrah which is trellis planted. The soil across the plots is a mix of schist, clay, limestone and sand. Benjamin feels that many of the wines in the Minervois AOC are too concentrated and alcoholic, and works hard to make wines that, while full flavored, are lighter, fresher, and lower in alcohol than most average wines from the Languedoc. Indeed, there is a level of liveliness in his wines that you seldom see in the wines of the region.