LES PETITES MISES
Les Petites Mises Rouge 2020
Hérault, France
A blend of Carignan and Syrah from vines young and old planted over clay and limestone soils. This was their first ever cuvée, from which the domaine has taken its name. The two varieties were picked, destemmed and fermented together on their skins for forty five days, before being pressed off to glass demijohns for a year of rest. The brambly fruit is framed by fine tannins, with a touch of spice and a herbaceous character adding real intrigue.
Carignan, Syrah
ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Nathalie Guillevic and Etienne Granier farm four hectares of vines hidden amongst woodlands in Quarante, a tiny village northwest of Béziers in the Hérault. Having lived for many years in both Provence and the Ardèche, the two developed an interest in the kind of wines we love and in 2017 decided to settle here, drawn to the region because of its natural beauty, grape varieties and terroir.
The vines are planted in gobelet over clay and limestone. The oldest are over a hundred years old and have been farmed organically for almost thirty years. The two work with a real attention to detail in the vineyards, which are treated only with a little copper, sulphur, herbal teas and essential oils.
The grapes are harvested early in the morning, destemmed by hand in the afternoon and fermented in cuve. Once fermentation is finished, they are given a very gentle press to either fifty-four litre glass demijohns or large ceramic jars to rest. Excercising great patience, Nathalie and Etienne bottle the wines in small lots only when they feel they are ready, by gravity and with no additions.
Nathalie and Etienne’s wines have a rare sense of clarity and focus. Built on a backbone of pristine fruit, they are strikingly pure, offering a beautiful vision of grape and place.