Languedoc Blanc, Domaine de Montcalmès

Standout Languedoc white from an exemplary vintage

After extensive training with Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage, the Alary family (L’Oratoire St. Martin) and Olivier Jullien at nearby Mas Jullien, ex-coopérateur Frédéric Pourtalié and his father decided to bring wine production in-house in 1998. The family vines lie in the hamlet of Montcalmès – some 30km north-west of Montpellier – in the Cévennes National Park. The surrounding mountains create a unique microclimate on the limestone-clay plateau with cool summer nights and good wind movement allowing grapes to mature slowly and steadily despite searing daytime temperatures. Frédéric keeps things simple, producing just one red wine, and a magnificent white.

The white, predominantly Marsanne and Roussanne with Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay as needed, is produced in very small quantities and are therefore quite rare. Raised in oak, this is a rich and elegant white from 2015 – a benefitted from near-perfect growing conditions.

Colour – White
Producer – Domaine de Montcalmès
Country – France
Region – Languedoc
Vegan – No
ABV – 12%
Grapes – Roussanne, Marsanne, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay
Vintage – 2015
Sustainability – Organic
Female Winemaker – No
Food Pairings – Lobster, Brown butter, Nut Roast