Domaine les Aurelles : Solen 2012

A Languedoc Red with Generous Black Fruit and Garrigue on the Nose

It was in 1995 that Basile Saint-Germain first arrived in the Languedoc, in search of a vineyard with old vines planted on the gravelly terraces of the Pézenas appellation. Outside the village of Nizas, he purchased 9 hectares of vineyard property and in 2001 constructed a modern cellar of natural stone slabs, fully equipped with state-of-the-art winemaking technology. Today, Domaine les Aurelles produces dark aromatic reds and one exceptional white wine, each with a singular Southern (French) charm. The vineyard is managed biodynamically, following the cycles of nature, and the grapes selectively harvested by hand in several passes. Such a sustainable approach to viticulture paired with minimum involvement winemaking results in powerful, honest wines that genuinely express their terroir of origin. The Solen 2012 from Domaine des Aurelles is a blend of 60% Carignan and 40% Grenache from vines planted on the ancient terraces of Villafranchien gravel and basaltic scree. The vineyard is managed biodynamically and certified free of pesticides and herbicides. The fruit is hand-harvested and sorted on the vine, with average yield amounting to 20 hl/ha. The wine undergoes an extended ageing of 48 months in hot-enamelled steel vats. It is not filtred before bottling and contains only a very low dose of sulphur.

The Solen 2012 from Domaine des Aurelles is a charming wine, simultaneously subtle and complex on the nose. The bouquet reveals ripe black fruits (including cassis and jammy black cherries), along with spicy touches of black liquorice, black pepper, notes of garrigue and dried thyme, and hints of well-worn leather. On the palate, this biodynamic Languedoc wine presents a full body and a firm backbone of fine tannins. Its great density is balanced with elegance, a generous complexity of flavours continuing into a long finish. A great Languedoc blend built for 10-15 years of age in the bottle.