Domaine Les Aurelles - Languedoc Solen rouge 2017

With unparalleled vinous character, it offers a dynamic, powerful attack and a refined, delicate finish with exceptionally fine tannins.

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 Solen, Carignan, and Grenache—all completely destemmed—never show any signs of the vintage’s heat. After more than 10 years of biodynamic farming, the terroir retains its salinity and produces a remarkably well-integrated red, with perfect grace and a soaring finish.

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.

I love the wild, spicy notes that emerge, ranging from cloves and paprika to cardamom and licorice, along with aromas of plum and wild raspberry. There are also hints of orange. It’s a medium-bodied to full-bodied wine, full of verve and energy. The tannins are fine and elegant. The finish is lively. 60% Carignan and 40% Grenache. Ready to drink now or for aging.