Clos Centeilles - Minervois La Livinière Le Clos 2016

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

About the wine:

You’ll quickly fall under the spell of its aromas of thyme, rockrose, and black pepper. Complex and smooth, this blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre is enhanced by particularly fresh tannins. The elegant palate concludes with a vetiver finish that gives it a real kick.

About the estate:

This unique estate, situated in the picturesque setting of the Siran plateau, is run by Cécile Boyer-Domergue, who is always assisted by her mother, Patricia. Their wines are the result of work carried out with exemplary integrity, focused on cultivating rare or forgotten grape varieties. The fruit expression on the nose is always slightly candied, while on the palate the wines display rare elegance and great finesse of texture, particularly the pure Cinsaults. The top vintages are sold only at their peak. The estate produces a lovely dry white made from forgotten varieties: white Araignan, white and gray Riveyrenc, as well as a raisin-based wine, Erme, in the spirit of the “noble wines” once produced in the Minervois. We must commend the uniqueness and strength of this approach—both viticultural and commemorative—which serves as a vital benchmark, not only for the Minervois but for the entire Languedoc region.