Domaine des Soustres
A chance meeting in London at the Top 100 dinner last year with Jean-Paul Mamert led to a visit to Domaine des Soustres with Sylvain Roche, who runs the estate in Jean-Paul’s absence. The name of the estate comes from the original owner, Thomas de Soustres and the name apparently describes land that is cultivated to provide food for the farm animals The origins of the property go back to the 13th century, where there were large barns run by nuns and used to store the tithes, or agricultural produce that had to be paid to the church. The estate has produced wine since the 1650s. They now have 32 hectares of vineyards, reduced from 55, and with a total of 100 hectares, including olive trees, woodland and garrigues, on slopes near the village of Montady. There is a flat 22 hectares plot on the top of the hill. Sylvain did not suggest that we visit the vineyards - it had been raining heavily…. and mud was the order of the day. Instead Sylvain showed...
