Notify me
2023 Pays d’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon “Les Traverses”
Château Fontanès![- Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant](https://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2023-Pays-dOc-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Les-Traverses-product-image-9655-medium.jpg)
This delicious country red might be the unlikeliest success story of southern France. Two decades ago, Cyriaque Rozier, vigneron of Château La Roque in Pic Saint Loup, was so inspired by a nearby plot of Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 1970 that he purchased it and, as a side project, started making wine under his own label. He wasn’t interested in fashioning some grand expression of the grape in the vein of Bordeaux, but rather a pure and joyous rouge that would exist happily on any table.
I can’t think of anywhere else I’ve tasted this unique combination of grape, terroir, and farming: Cabernet’s classic notes of plum and currant bear a trace of southern French garrigue, and it’s all carried on a fresh and graceful frame, thanks to Cyriaque’s biodynamic farming and vinification in stainless steel cuves to retain as much freshness and purity of fruit as possible. This beautiful rouge is at once savory, soulful, and elegant, representing as perfect a candidate for your summer cooler or ice bucket as your favorite juicy reds from the Beaujolais or Loire.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
Appellation: | Vin de Pays d’Oc |
Country: | France |
Region: | Languedoc-Roussillon |
Producer: | Château Fontanès |
Winemaker: | Cyriaque Rozier |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1970, 5 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone, Marl |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 14.2% |
More from this Producer or Region
![2021 Vin de France “Le Carignan” Domaine d’Aupilhac](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-Vin-de-France-Le-Carignan-product-image-8137-medium.jpg)
2021 Vin de France “Le Carignan”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Old vines give this Carignan a supple, suede-like texture, along with loads of dark fruit, a peaty smokiness, and great minerality.
![2021 Collioure <em>Rouge</em> “La Pinède” Domaine La Tour Vieille](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-Collioure-emRougeem-La-Pinde-product-image-8506-medium.jpg)
2021 Collioure Rouge “La Pinède”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
If you can’t make it to the south of France this year, here’s a way to bring the Mediterranean sun to you.
![2020 Pic Saint Loup <em>Rouge</em> “Sainte Agnès” Ermitage du Pic Saint Loup](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2020-Pic-Saint-Loup-emRougeem-Sainte-Agns-product-image-6100-medium.jpg)
2020 Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Sainte Agnès”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Shows a kinship with the northern Rhône, echoing aromas of black olive and violets.
![2021 Saint-Chinian <i>Rouge</i> “Sortilège” Les Eminades](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-SaintChinian-iRougei-Sortilge-product-image-9241-medium.jpg)
2021 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Sortilège”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Full of freshness and detailed elegance, with not a hint of rusticity.
![2020 Faugères “Jadis” Domaine Leon Barral](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2019-Faugres-Jadis-product-image-8410-medium.jpg)
2020 Faugères “Jadis”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Earthy, meaty, savory, juicy, and powerful, it is a glassful of joyful, soulful goodness.
![2022 Saint-Chinian <i>Rouge</i> “Cebenna” Les Eminades](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2022-SaintChinian-iRougei-Cebenna-product-image-9240-medium.jpg)
2022 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Cebenna”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Generous and floral, with fragrant hints of lavender, purple fruit, and brambly garrigue.
![2022 Pic Saint Loup “Tour de Pierres” Héritage du Pic Saint Loup](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2022-Pic-Saint-Loup-Tour-de-Pierres-product-image-8226-medium.jpg)
2022 Pic Saint Loup “Tour de Pierres”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
August Club Rouge ~ A remarkably graceful rouge from one of our favorite appellations in southern France.
![2022 Pic Saint-Loup <i>Rouge</i> Château Fontanès](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2022-Pic-Saint-Loup-iRougei-product-image-8508-medium.jpg)
2022 Pic Saint-Loup Rouge
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Maybe it’s the biodynamic farming, but these wines always seem to have an extra gear when it comes to aromatics and sheer deliciousness.
![2021 Vin de France “Aleatico” Château Fontanès](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2021-Vin-de-France-Aleatico-product-image-8970-medium.jpg)
2021 Vin de France “Aleatico”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
This seductive red is supple and graceful on the palate, perfect for drinking chilled.
![2023 Pays d’Oc <i>Blanc</i> “Les Traverses de Fontanès” Château Fontanès](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/products/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-2023-Pays-dOc-iBlanci-Les-Traverses-de-Fontans-product-image-9656-medium.jpg)
2023 Pays d’Oc Blanc “Les Traverses de Fontanès”
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Melony, snappy, bright, and clean, this is a delightful everyday white with a refreshingly different flavor profile.
![Producer - Château Fontanès](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/content_producers/234-1-899068.jpg)
About The Producer
Château Fontanès
About The Region
Languedoc-Roussillon
Ask wine drinkers around the world, and the word “Languedoc” is sure to elicit mixed reactions. On the one hand, the region is still strongly tied to its past as a producer of cheap, insipid bulk wine in the eyes of many consumers. On the other hand, it is the source of countless great values providing affordable everyday pleasure, with an increasing number of higher-end wines capable of rivaling the best from other parts of France.
While there’s no denying the Languedoc’s checkered history, the last two decades have seen a noticeable shift to fine wine, with an emphasis on terroir. Ambitious growers have sought out vineyard sites with poor, well draining soils in hilly zones, curbed back on irrigation and the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and looked to balance traditional production methods with technological advancements to craft wines with elegance, balance, and a clear sense of place. Today, the overall quality and variety of wines being made in the Languedoc is as high as ever.
Shaped like a crescent hugging the Mediterranean coast, the region boasts an enormous variety of soil types and microclimates depending on elevation, exposition, and relative distance from the coastline and the cooler foothills farther inland. While the warm Mediterranean climate is conducive to the production of reds, there are world-class whites and rosés to be found as well, along with stunning dessert wines revered by connoisseurs for centuries.
More from Languedoc-Roussillon or France
2022 Collioure Rouge “Puig Ambeille”
Domaine de la Tour Vieille France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Collioure Blanc “Les Canadells”
Domaine La Tour Vieille France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Clos de la Simonette”
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Languedoc Rouge “Lou Maset”
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Languedoc Blanc “Cuvée Sainte Agnès”
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Languedoc Montpeyroux Rouge
Domaine d'Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2023 Corbières Rouge “La Démarrante”
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Cebenna”
Les Eminades France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Faugères “Jadis”
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Pic Saint Loup Rosé
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Languedoc Blanc “Les Cocalières”
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Vin de France “Aleatico”
Château Fontanès France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Collioure Rouge “Puig Ambeille”
Domaine de la Tour Vieille France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Collioure Blanc “Les Canadells”
Domaine La Tour Vieille France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Clos de la Simonette”
Mas Champart France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Languedoc Rouge “Lou Maset”
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Languedoc Blanc “Cuvée Sainte Agnès”
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Languedoc Montpeyroux Rouge
Domaine d'Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2023 Corbières Rouge “La Démarrante”
Maxime Magnon France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Saint-Chinian Rouge “Cebenna”
Les Eminades France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2020 Faugères “Jadis”
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2022 Pic Saint Loup Rosé
Héritage du Pic Saint Loup France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Languedoc Blanc “Les Cocalières”
Domaine d’Aupilhac France | Languedoc-Roussillon
2021 Vin de France “Aleatico”
Château Fontanès France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Kermit once said...
![Kermit Lynch](http://s3.amazonaws.com/efcheckout/kermitlynch/content/Kermit-Lynch-Wine-Merchant-Kermit-once-said-image_img_1-13427-medium.jpeg)
Kermit once said...
You don’t have to be rich to cellar a great wine.