Domaine Les Aurelles - Languedoc Aurel rouge 2017

It exudes freshness and energy, with more depth than breadth. All this while retaining Aurel’s core characteristics, particularly its incredible aromatic profile, which was magnified in 2017. It finishes light and airy, with great delicacy imparted by this magnificent wine.

Near Pézenas, about thirty kilometers from the Mediterranean, the Domaine des Aurelles, covering just under ten hectares, boasts a dreamlike terroir, one of a kind, blending basalt and gravel in a breathtaking landscape that stretches all the way to the Cévennes. Solen, the first cuvée, surpasses most Languedoc wines. Aurel is the flagship wine. Both cuvées are released after a significant period of bottle aging and are not aged in oak. Aurel Blanc is unique, released after several years in the cellar: this is a truly great wine for fine dining. Recently taken over by Matthieu Gufflet (Château Guiraud in Sauternes), a new chapter is beginning.

The volcanic terroir shines through in the 2017 Aurel, with its delicate texture and notes of blood orange and charcoal. The harmonious blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache will continue to surprise us in 10 years.

Over the past 30 years, the estate founded by Basile and Caroline Saint-Germain has become a standard-bearer for the Languedoc’s revival and a driving force for Pézenas. In late 2022, the estate was acquired by Bordeaux entrepreneur Matthieu Gufflet, owner of Château de Callac in the Graves, Château Guiraud in the Sauternes region, and Château des Bachelards in Fleurie. Two years later, Basile Saint-Germain permanently handed the reins to Sandrine Garbay, director of the Gufflet estates, who continues the collaboration with winemaker Margarethe Chapelle. The 8.5 hectares of vineyards, cultivated biodynamically without certification, are planted on Quaternary terraces covered with rounded pebbles and scattered with basalt flows from the volcanoes of Auvergne. The grapes are then vinified in a bioclimatic cellar, whose energy efficiency supports the aging process. The harvest, subjected to rigorous sorting and aged for 4 to 5 years, yields a small selection of wines of rare purity.

Damp earth, dried herbs, olives, black raspberries, and strawberries. Juicy, ripe, and deep, with salty notes in the fruit that make you want to take another sip. Firm yet elegant tannins. 85% Mourvèdre and 15% Grenache. Ready to drink or suitable for aging.