La Cadene Sauvignon Blanc Chateau del Ranq 2024

La Cadene Sauvignon Blanc Ranq 2024, biodynamic wine, 100% Sauvignon on marl, alluvial soils with some limestone, ‘elevage’ in old barrels for one year.  We found this wine at lunch in a fantastic restaurant in the centre of Montpellier, served with some white fish and risotto, it was absolutely perfect.  The style is reminiscent of the fume blanc wines of the US and Loire in the early 2000s but with much better balance, freshness and all round drinkability.  No sickly milky flavours here.  It is quite rare to find Sauvignon Blanc in the Languedoc but it really works, harvest is early, in the later part of August and the acidity whilst not very high balances well with the lovely textural mouth feel.  The wine is a delicious triumph.

Chateau del Ranq is located in the small hamlet of Claret (nothing to with Bordeaux) in the shadow of the magnificent Pic Saint-Loup, north of Montpellier.

It is run by husband and wife team, Laure Barthélémy and Sébastien Freychet who in 2020 took over the full 10 hectare domaine after a couple of years cutting their teeth with only 3 hectares.  The farm has been working organically since 2009 and now is run according to Biodynamic principles and is certified by Demeter.

The land is mainly clay and limestone surrounded by garrique and limestone outcrops with some areas having a high concentration of blue marl.  The land has been in the family for generations with knowledge and respect for the land being passed on from Father to Son and Mother to Daughter.

They have a number of different plots with some old vines of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah etc and also a relatively new vineyard of Sauvignon Blanc, a white variety more associated with the Loire and rarely found in the Languedoc.  With this fruit, they make a very small quantity of unique Sauvignon Blanc fermented and matured for a year in old barrels.  This is a lovely, warming textured Sauvignon reminiscent of the old Fume Blanc style but extra freshness and balance.

Despite its long history, Chateau del Ranq is what we would call an emerging or new wave producer with two very young wine makers at the helm working the land and making the wine almost single handedly.  The Pic Saint Loup is a beautiful and spectacular part of a region from where, despite the challenges of climate change and drought, more and more delicious, fresh, authentic wines are emerging.