Spotlight on Corbières
by Chris Santini
Spotlight on Corbières
by Chris Santini
If you’d like a travel tip for France, I have a good one for you: go to Corbières! Living is good in those southern hills, with plenty of artsy villages, locavore restaurants, B&Bs with old-school charm, hikes and sites galore, and, of course—the reason we’re here—a plethora of local wines that are most often affordable and pleasantly drinkable, and, at their best, truly exceptional.
Bruno Laboucarié, our man in the north of Corbières for the last forty years or so at Domaine de Fontsainte, embodies that quality of life by permanently beaming with joy, wearing his smile from ear to ear. Maxime Magnon, our guy in the south of Corbières, on the border of Catalan country, left his home in eastern France to settle down in the bohemian-tinged village of Durban-Corbières. Both make wines full of pride, joy, and depth.
While Fontsainte may be most famous for their Gris de Gris rosé, the Demoiselle rouge cuvée has always been their hidden treasure. Gnarled vines, well over a century old, surrounding the historic Laboucarié family home reliably churn out year after year a strawberry, spice, and chocolate-toned rouge that, while rich and full, remains balanced. And their black label Corbières rouge always falls on my short list of “Old Reliable” wines, the wines you can open for anyone, anywhere, on any occasion, and you know everyone will love them. They tend to be open, pure, fun, fruity, and delicious—attributes no one can argue with.
Maxime Magnon is also an aficionado of old vines, which he farms assisted by cows, sheep, horses, and a donkey, and from which he manages to produce incredibly pure, velvety smooth wines that deeply reflect their terroirs. His blanc, La Bégou, is what I would want a Corbières grand cru to taste like, if they had that sort of thing there—regal, rich, and savory. Dark hued, plush, and full of garrigue, Métisse offers a completely different take on Corbières rosé from Fontsainte’s ethereal and crisp rendition. Maxime’s Démarrante and Rozeta rouge have a fun and uplifting Beaujolais-like black cherry thing going on at first glance, which rapidly gives way to a gutsy, intense, rock-infused soul. And, finally, the stunning single-vineyard Campagnès is sourced from vines over one hundred years old! Floral aromatics prime the palate for great expectations, and the Campagnès certainly delivers. A recent article in the French press summed up my thoughts exactly on Maxime’s wines as possessing “both density and depth, of a disconcerting ease to be drunk.”
Wines In The Collection
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish.
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
For this perennially over-delivering cuvée, Bruno Laboucarié blends two parts Carignan with one part Grenache and a splash of Syrah to produce a vibrant country red reminiscent of black cherries and spice.
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Hailing from the rugged and windswept hills of Corbières, which teem with garrigue and olive groves, La Demoiselle delivers a glorious taste of the South.
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon
The Rozeta features the exuberant, inviting perfume and velvety wild fruit we expect from a wine that underwent 100% whole-cluster fermentation.
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon
This is what happens when the Languedoc meets the Beaujolais: old Carignan and Cinsault fermented by carbonic maceration to make something light, fresh, and delicious.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
A cold glass hits the spot every single time, bursting over the taste buds with bright citrus, wild strawberry, and a juicy finish.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
For this perennially over-delivering cuvée, Bruno Laboucarié blends two parts Carignan with one part Grenache and a splash of Syrah to produce a vibrant country red reminiscent of black cherries and spice.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Hailing from the rugged and windswept hills of Corbières, which teem with garrigue and olive groves, La Demoiselle delivers a glorious taste of the South.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
The Rozeta features the exuberant, inviting perfume and velvety wild fruit we expect from a wine that underwent 100% whole-cluster fermentation.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
This is what happens when the Languedoc meets the Beaujolais: old Carignan and Cinsault fermented by carbonic maceration to make something light, fresh, and delicious.
More Collections
Rosé Sale
One month into 2025, my strongest resolution has been a renewed commitment to cook more. I chalk my hot streak up to a wealth of quick and easy recipes I’ve stumbled upon, but what helps even more is the fridge full of inspiring, ready-to-pair rosés I keep on hand…
The Natural World of Thierry Germain
Not long after settling in Saumur in the nineties, Thierry Germain started farming organically, and soon thereafter, he embraced biodynamics. It resonated with him that a holistic approach, with ethical and respectful practices in the vineyard and toward those who helped him work the land (animal and human), was crucial to making the best possible wines…
A Rare Find in the Northern Rhône
Kermit was one of the first American buyers to recognize the potential in the appellation of Saint-Joseph, the series of rolling granite hills on the west side of the Rhône River between Ampuis (Côte-Rôtie) and Tournon-sur-Rhône (Hermitage) planted to Syrah.
A New Era for the Bouvier Family
There’s something so rare and refreshing when a Burgundy family, once divided into multiple domaines, reunites after many years. After a few decades of pursuing their own projects, brothers Régis and Bernard Bouvier recently merged their vineyards under the domaine named for their father, René, following Régis’s retirement...
In Case You Missed It: A Collection of Noteworthy Selections from 2024
The past few Decembers we’ve reviewed your year in wine, highlighting recurring favorites in categories such as pricepoint, color, style, and region. This year we’ve set aside the formal data in favor of the anecdotal to bring you a collection of wines—newcomers of sorts—that stood out for any number of reasons...
Provençal Gems from North of Nice
Today I had the Clos Saint-Joseph blanc. I imagine if François Raveneau had made wine there, his blanc would have tasted like Roch’s. What a pure expression of that fabulous terroir. Filtered by the stones. — Kermit Lynch
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.