Maziere 'C' VDF Rouge, 750ml

Corbières is one of the most dramatic and beautiful areas in the Languedoc, if not of all France. Climbing up from the coast around Perpignan it is a shock to come across this craggy, undulating, wind battered landscape.

Momoko & Fabrice Monnin have been making wine in the area since taking over Mazière from the Labouygues family in 2014. Before coming to Corbières they ran a well known wine bar and shop called #LesZinzinsduVin in Besançon.

Their vineyards are made up of very old Grenache, Carignan, Syrah & Macabeu interspersed with some more obscure local varieties, all planted on limestone & clay. Expositions - as anywhere but particularly in this very hot region is key to keeping some freshness and minerality with grapes that are at full maturity.

The Monnin’s recognised how special these vineyards are and are keen to continue the tradition that the Labouygues family; therefore in their tiny cellar, all work is done by gravity. The press is vertical and the barrels are old, 228L & some demi-muids & they also have dame jeanne for the elevage. Each grape is vinified separately and each barrel ages differently (Fabrice and Momoko monitor each barrel and don’t always top them up; the resulting oxidative notes unlock minerality and give some of their wines a striking salinity). Having tracked the progress of each barrel, they will either bottle one barrel or sometimes will blend a few barrels together to benefit from the qualities of each one - either from the same vintage or spanning a couple of years. - Camille Riviere