Description
Domaine Terres Falmet is in the Saint-Chinian appellation of southern France, and was rescued from looming abandonment by Yves Falmet in 1996. Yves grew up in a wine-growing village and family in Champagne, and discovered the property while completing his Masters in biochemistry in Montpellier. After several years of work in research and stints in the US, Australia and New Zealand, he began the effort to bring the property back into production, restoring its steep vineyards to organic viticulture, constructing missing facilities, building a distribution network, etc... This wine is 100% Carignan, and comes from an 80-year-old block, the oldest vines he owns. Carignan used to be the most widely planted grape variety in the Languedoc, but in recent years has been in decline. That is a shame, as you will find here—when well-made from old vines, it is delicious. Yves describes his winemaking as follows: "Once in the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed, then placed in tanks. Fermentation lasts for about ten days, followed by hot maceration for several weeks. During maceration, daily pumping over extracts the noble substance contained in the grapes. This ultra ripe substance imbues my wines with color, aromas and their tannic, rounded and silky structure. After these few weeks of maceration, the wines need to be racked by letting them drain from the tank and removing the remaining pomace. L’îvresse des Cimes and wines from the ancient varieties: Cinsault, Aramon, Carignan and Mourvèdre, are matured in tanks." While Yves’ vineyards are located within the St-Chinian appellation, this wine is declassified into Vin de France as monovarietal wines are not allowed within the AOC.
100% Carignan. Aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with savory herbal notes. The palate is richly fruited—but not jammy, with flavors of freshly picked blackberry, red cherry currant and peppery spice set against a refreshing minerality. A structured and nicely balanced medium-bodied red with succulent acidity and light, dusty tannins.
