Mas d'Amile

In 2015, after a decade of prospecting, we finally found a partner in Montpeyroux ("rocky mountain" in Occitan), the charming Amélie d’Hurlaborde. Amélie, her husband Jérôme and her brother Sébastien Carceller decided to make their own wine, starting in 2007 with just one hectare of 70 year old Carignan coming from the Carcellers’ grandfather. (Sébastien’s main job is supporting Alain Chabanon nearby, at one of the highest-rated and most expensive estates in the Languedoc). But Jérôme was posted to Asia, Amélie went with him. Now she's back, a cellar has been built, and the recent releases are terrific. They now farm eight hectares of vines organically without certification.

The vineyards at Montpeyroux face south and are protected by the Causse du Larzac and Mont Baudile (850m) to the north and the hills of St Guilhem-le-Désert to the east. The cooling wind coming from the Causse du Larzac brings dramatic temperature variation between night and day, allowing full ripeness while retaining freshness and acidity. Montpeyroux is widely expected to become an AOP in the next few years, so highly regarded is the area.