Three years ago we discovered this winery when we were researching our book on the Languedoc wines. We asked one of the producers we met if he had any personal recommendations and that’s how we got their name! And when we recently re-tasted their wines we can only conclude that their search for perfection continues and makes progress.
The wines are exceptionally well made and very delicious. Roland and Anne-Marie Coustal have 12 ha in the southern part of Minervois. Their first vintage was 2001, after taking over Anne-Marie’s family’s vineyards. They still do all the work themselves, except for the harvest. A new cuvée is the Et Cetera. ”It’s our entry level wine and it’s very successful”, says Anne-Marie, ”many wine shops buys this one first and then they discover our other wines”. It is made from 60% carignan and 35% grenache and is very drinkable, unoaked with good fruit and structure and a bit of the typical Languedoc herbs and spices (5.50 euro).
Very good is the Racines 2007 from 100% carignan, lots of character fruit, elegance – a genuine Languedoc. Exceptional value for money at 9.75 euro. Quintessens 2007 is a 100% syrah, dense structure, long and good complexity on the palate. The varietal character does not dominate; the wine is still very much from the Languedoc.
