I first tasted the wines from Borie de Maurel in Australia where they are imported by Vintage Cellars. The Languedoc has a reputation of producing generic wines but areas up off the valley floor, like Felines Minervois and La Liviniere are home to some old-vine grenache, shiraz, carignan and mourvedre growing in shallower, rocky soils. All in all there's some exciting stuff going on up there which can be seen in the wines of the better producers. Like anywhere it's the guys that know their soil and sites and manage the vines with attention to detail that get the best results.
Borie de Maurel was the creation of sailing fanatic Michel Escande in 1989. He brings his love of nature to the vineyard and farms organically with a rare ability to stop, look and listen to what's going on in the natural environment. The result of 20 years work is a suite of small vineyard parcels with soils in great condition....and the moniker of "The Wizard of Felines".
He runs Borie de Maurel with his two sons, Maxime (commerce) and Gabriel (vineyard and winemaking).
The vineyards of Felines Minervois. Note the small parcels surrounded by native 'garrigue' bushland. Biodiversity at work here......if you let it happen!
There are similarities to McLaren Vale, not only in varietal mix but in the fact that the geology is extremely complex. End result in both regions is an amazing diversity of sites from which to make distinctive wines.
With Michel Escande. I felt I'd met someone who echos a lot of my own philosophies about natural farming. Uncanny at times...
More vines....and some bare land......opportunity knocking for someone?
Felix near Carignan vines.
Emma enjoyed the Cuvee Maxime mourvedre. Must be the Bandol connection!! My preference was for the pure expression of grenache spice in the "Belle de Nuit". The rest of the range is standout too, check
www.boriedemaurel.fr for info.
Thanks to Michel, Max and Gabriel for spending a day showing us around. Also thanks to Simon and Grant at V.C. for making the introduction.
