Domaine Les Aurelles - Languedoc Solen rouge 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

With an unrivalled vinosity, it has a dynamic, powerful attack and a racy, delicate finish with very fine tannins.

About the domain :

Close to Pézenas, some thirty kilometers from the Mediterranean, the domaine des Aurelles, covering just over ten hectares, enjoys a unique unique terroir, combining basalt and gravel in a breathtaking landscape breathtaking landscape that stretches as far as the Cévennes. Solen, the the first cuvée, surpasses most Languedoc wines. Aurel is the grand vin. Both cuvées are marketed after a considerable time bottle ageing and are wood-free. Aurel blanc is unique, released after several years in the cellar. this is a great gastronomic wine. Recently taken over by Matthieu Gufflet (Château Guiraud, Sauternes), a new chapter begins.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Solen, totally destemmed carignan and grenache, never suffers the heat of the vintage. The terroir, after more than 10 years of biodynamic viticulture, retains its salinity and produces a remarkably mellow red, with perfect grace and a soaring finish.

About the domain :

In 30 years, the estate founded by Basile and Caroline Saint-Germain has become a standard-bearer for the Languedoc revival and a powerhouse for Pézenas. At the end of 2022, the estate was bought by Bordeaux entrepreneur Matthieu Gufflet, owner of Château de Callac in the Graves, Château Guiraud in Sauternes and Château des Bachelards in Fleurie. Two years later, Basile Saint-Germain handed over the reins to Sandrine Garbay, director of the Gufflet estates, who continued the collaboration with oenologist Margarethe Chapelle. The 8.5 hectares of vines, managed biodynamically without certification, are planted on Quaternary terraces, covered with rolled pebbles and a few basalt flows from the Auvergne volcanoes. The grapes are then vinified in a bioclimatic cellar, whose energy resilience encourages ageing. The harvest, subjected to drastic sorting and 4-5 years of ageing, gives birth to a short range of rare purity.

James Suckling

About the wine:

I love the wild spicy notes, from clove and paprika to cardamom and licorice, plus aromas of plum and wild raspberry. There are also hints of orange. This is a medium- to full-bodied wine, full of verve and energy. The tannins are fine and elegant. The finish is lively. 60% Carignan and 40% Grenache. For drinking or cellaring.