Famille Carrière Pradal
This is a new estate to me, based Domaine de la Massole, outside the village of Servian. I talked to Claire Carrière who explained that she is the 7th generation of a family of vignerons. The vines, some 55 hectares in total, were at the nearby Bassan cooperative and their first vintage as independent wine growers was 2017. We had an animated conversation about agricultural forestry, which is one of the ways to combat climate change and excessive heat. Gérard Gauby in Roussillon is a passionate exponent. And Claire has four kilometres of hedges on the estate. Their vineyards are either registered HVE or are organic.
The wines were all quite easy and approachable, and this is what I tasted.
2022 Domaine de la Massole Blanc, Pays d’Oc, a blend of Chardonnay with 10% Viognier with a light colour and lightly peachy rounded fruit on both nose and palate. Made for easy drinking.
2022 Les Cousins, Pays d’Oc – A pure Viognier with lightly peachy fruit. Nicely understated, and not too blowsy.
2019 GCB, Pays d’Oc - A blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc. With six months in new wood, which was a shame as the oak completely overwhelmed any fruit. But the blend was worth exploring. There is very little Bourboulenc in the Languedoc outside la Clape.
2022 Domaine Saint Louis Sauvignon Blanc, Pays d’Oc - From a vineyard outside Béziers. Quite a pithy Sauvignon nose, with rounded varietal character on the palate.
2022 Domaine de la Massole Rosé, AOP Languedoc - A blend of Syrah with 20% Grenache Noir. Dry and fresh, with some firm raspberry fruit and a rounded finish.
2018 Domaine de la Massole, Rouge, Pays d’Oc - A blend of 70% Syrah, 30% Grenache Noir and just a drop of Cinsaut with some soft rounded spice on the nose and palate and a firm streak of tannin.
2019 Troglodytes, AOP Languedoc - 60% Syrah with 40% Grenache Noir. Carbonic maceration for the Syrah and a classic vinification with destemmed grapes for the Grenache Noir. Some fresh peppery fruit and some cherry liqueur. A good mouthful of spicey fruit. Nicely balanced. The alcohol was slightly noticeable at 14.5°
2019 Alicante, Pays d’Oc Pure Alicante Bouschet, planted in 1950. Intense colour, as a teinturier grape. Quite a solid dense firm palate,with a tanninc streak. Youthful. Needs time.
2019 GSM Pays d’Oc - A blend of Syrah, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre, with some carbonic maceration. Twelve months in wood. Deep colour. Quite a firm nose. And on the palate firm and structured; quite dense with some ripe fruit, quite sturdy and solid. Needs time.
2022 Domaine Saint Louis, Pays d’Oc - A blend of 60% Grenache Noir with 40% Marselan. Bright young colour. Rounded and easy fruit with a tannic streak.
I will hope to visit before too long so that I can, to find out more about Claire's work with agricultural forestry.
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