2020 Domaine de Massiac "Sentinelle de Massiac" Minervois, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

The "Sentinelle" cuvée is the more precocious of the two reds produced at Massiac. The tannins are more supple and the fruit a touch "sweeter", more forward and less rustic than its companion. Fermentation and elevage are in tank. The wine is bottled within a year of the harvest. The blend is usually two-thirds Syrah and one-third Carignan.

Thanks to older, deep-rooted vines, Massiac is able to produce an intriguing, lush wine, with savory, dark fruit notes from the Syrah balanced by the earthen tones, tannins, and high acidity of the Carignan. A balanced red that pairs well with traditional Provencal lamb and beef dishes.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The Château Massiac has a long history that dates back to the Roman Empire when this area was colonized by the Romans using the nearby Mediterranean port (30 kilometers) of Narbonne as an access point. In the 17th Century, two brothers from Massiac in the Auvergne region traversed the area in service to the King of Spain and eventually settled at this spot situated almost precisely halfway between the clock towers of the villages of Azille and Rieux Minervois. During the French Revolution, the “chateau” was burned to the ground.

Bernard Boudouresques and his family revived the domaine more than a decade ago, planting vineyards and converting the estate to organic viticulture. Production from the estate is now (2012) certified organic. Massiac encompasses 21.5 hectares of vineyards, 8.5 of which produce the Minervois Rouge and 5 of which are the source for the two white wines classified as Vin de Pays d’Oc. The domaine lies at the extreme south of the Massif Centrale, effectively in the gently sloping foothills that lead to the Mediterranean coast which is not terribly distant. The subsoils are essentially limestone and clay with silex and marble infusions, all of which was formed during the Lutecian geologic era. This soil has particularly good drainage which accounts for the superior concentration that Massiac achieves in its wines. As well, the site is exposed both the winds that sweep north from the Mediterranean and the cooling northwest wind coming from the mountains known as Le Cers which consistently dries the vineyard and makes it less vulnerable to the maladies of the vine.