2015 Terrasses du Larzac

The Terrasses du Larzac appellation refers to the slopes that descend from the Larzac plateau in the Massif Central mountains to the Languedoc region far below. On these sparsely populated slopes live a handful of farmers who hold small family plots—on average, just a couple acres—handed down generation to generation. For years these farmers sold the grapes from these low-yielding old vines at a loss to local cooperatives, who couldn’t afford to pay a proper price for quality grapes. To rectify the situation, a collective of these growers, Les Vignes Oubliées, was formed nearly a decade ago, with organic certification in the vineyards, natural winemaking in the cellar, and barrel aging in an abandoned, high-altitude grotto on the terrasses as pillars of the project. Now, not only do the farmers involved no longer sell at a loss, they are all part-owners of the collective and share its labor and benefits. The wine is exceptionally balanced for a southern wine, with soft tannins and a fresh bouquet, best enjoyed young and cool in the spring and summer months that lie ahead. –Chris Santini

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Vintage 2015
• Bottle Size 750mL
• Blend 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Carignan
• Appellation Terrasses du Larzac
• Country France
• Region Languedoc-Roussillon
• Soil Schist, Sandstone, Clay, Limestone
• Winemaker Jean-Baptiste Granier
• Aging Aged 12-months in demi-muids and barriques
• Farming Organic
• Oak 10% new oak
• Alcohol 14.5%