Dom. Massiac Sauvignon Blanc

The History... Romans grew grapes here. Benedictines were making wine in these hills by the 9th century. Minerve is a village that provides the name for this large (over 9,000 acres of vines) grape growing region of the Languedoc. Minerve was also the site of a bloody siege and massacre of Cathars in the 13th century, so perhaps an odd choice as root for a territory name. There was and is a war going on, this time against a local grape deemed heretical, Carignan. Minervois was only granted AOC status for its wines in 1985- part of its AOC regulations stipulate no more than 40% of the (indigenous) Carignan grape be used for AOC wines. Misguided perhaps, but given the egregious overcropping and rock–bottom quality of wines made from the Carignan grape there during the 20th century, this legislation is comprehensible. It’s easier to blame the grape than the system or the farmer.

The Land... Bernard and France Boudovresques' farm sits at the extreme southern end of the Massif Central, in the heart of Monervois. Their land is full of green trees, thyme, rosemary, lavender. The estate was in existence by 1667, and was considered at that time to be land of strategic importance. Minervois is roughly the area between the Montagne Noire and the Canal du Midi, an area divided between the departments Hérault and Aude. At least six separate sub zones exist in Minervois, the best of which, Minervois La Livinière, was granted its own AOC in 1998. Limestone, schist, white marble and red sandstone are soil types in the area’s vineyards. A combination local geology and climate makes Minervois generally capable of producing some of the best value wines in the Languedoc. Fragrant, less dominated by hot alcohol and with fresher fruit.