DAY
(3)
Minervois and Saint Chinian are on today's program.
Mary different vines are featured in this region with grapes such as Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah for the reds and roses; Marssanne, Roussanne, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc, Vermentino, Mourvèdre Grenache blanc, Clairette for the whites and finally the Muscat for a sumptuous sweet wine.
After a drive thru an arid mountainous landscape to Saint Jean de Minervois for the XVth century Domaine de Barroubio, producing a wonderful Muscat wine, one of the greatest sweet wines of France and two red minervois.
After lunch in the superb medieval village of Minerve at the Troubadour , the afternoon will start with the Saint Chinian of the Domaine Canet Valette in the small village of Cessenon-sur-Orb. The first cuvee of Marc et Sophie Valette is the Maghani. With 40% Grenache, 40% syrah and 20% Mourvedre, a very low yield of 17 hl/ha and 70 days of cuvaison we can guess that this wine is not trivial but deep, dense and powerful. The other, the "Mille et une Nuits" coming from a vineyard yielding 30 hl/ha is a perfect initiation to the domain's splendid wines.
On our way back to Narbonne, we will make a last stop in this region at the Chateau de La Negly, a 1860 house dominating the countryside the marshes and the sea, in the very specific terroir of La Clape. Using new barrels and physiological maturity, Jean Paux-Rousset produces wines which are gourmand, dense but elegant.
Dinner and last night at the Bastide.
B - L - D
<<<-- Barroubio's Terroir (and under).
