Domaine de la GARANCE - Pierre Quinonero

Pierre Quinonero du domaine de la Garance, un des meilleurs vignerons du Languedoc.

First vintage bottled in the estate: 1998. Since then, Pierre Quinonero has learned his terroir (only 8 hectares) and is experimenting his methods of winemaking slowly and gradually.

The last vintages really make the difference: proof is, a second star (out of three possible) granted in 2015 by the RVF (Revue des Vins de France). This "promotion" is illustrated with a full page of presentation of this region in full ascension: "The renaissance of the Languedoc vineyards passes by vine passionate winemakers, strong heads who live their profession more as a vocation than as an income. Pierre Quinonero is definitely one of those ... Small resources, lots of conviction, passion (...) Small estate, few bottles, no "entry level", tastes assertive, sometimes demanding: they are Wines of insiders "

Located in altitude (400 m) just next to the Faugeres appellation, the estate (organic since 2011) benefits from a very beautiful and diverse terroir: basalt, limestone, pebbles... Most of the plots are in Caux, a small village near Pezenas. The vineyards are made up of old red carignan (55 years old on average) and syrahs, and for the whites of very old ugnis and clairettes (some vines are centenarians). All new plantations result from mass selections. The yields are ridiculous (around 20 hl / ha depending on the vintage), and the harvest is done manually and in boxes to avoid damaging the berries, which are sorted on arrival at the cellar.

The flagship wine of the estate is called "Les Armieres" ("good fairies" in Languedoc dialect). It comes from 90% of carignan planted in 1939 and 1962, and 10% of syrah vinified in whole harvest with long maceration. Most of the aging takes place in concrete vats and the rest in oak barrels, and the bottling takes place after two years, without sticking or filtration.