Saut de Cote Chabanon 2015

Saut de Cote Chabanon 2015, biodynamic wine, 80% Mourvédre and 20% Syrah, beautifully elegant and complex Languedoc wine.  Chabanon makes the Grand Crus of the Languedoc.  These very low yielding vines are planted on pure, naturally farmed soils made up of arid, stony, clay and limestone.  These wines offer fresh, crunchy, full bodied ripe red wines in youth and with age, become soft, smooth, rich and quintessentially Southern in style.  The Mourvedre here is crucial to that capacity for ageing and for creating wines with layers of fruit, earthy complexity and style.  The noble grape of the South, we love these older Mourvedres.  The Saut de Cote 15 is drinking beautifully, try with lamb cutlets on the BBQ.

Alain Chabanon is one of handful of pioneering Languedoc producers. Who setting out in the late 80s to lift the region out of the doldrums and realise the amazing potential for quality.

Alain Chabanon wanted old vines, great terroir and natural production and chose the region of Montpeyroux. Just below Larzac’s stone plateau to start his project 'Man is not all-powerful. Biodynamics opens our eyes and invites us to look at what is happening in the world around us. To understand the delicate alchemy of nature to produce outstanding wines.' He was certified Biodynamic in 2011 and like Nicolas Joly believes that biodynamic is 100% or nothing. Even organic treatments – they are avoided as they are unnecessary.

Chabanon believes that the vines must find their nutrition from the soils themselves. Even if only a small yield can be produced. Dung compost is used. Also a homeopathic dose of silica is added to the water before it is filtered and sprayed onto crops.

Sadly, the Languedoc doesn't seem to demand the same lofty reputation as some other regions of France. Possibly because of chequered history of large scale cooperative wineries. Chemical use and poor quality wines sold in plastic footballs. This is such as shame and the great wines from the area are without doubt some of the best in France. They also have the incredible ability as great wine has to transport the drinker to the place. You sense the garrigue, you taste the herbs and almost feel the warmth on your face. Chabanon's wines do this perhaps more than any others we have from the Languedoc. They need time and we recommend for those to cellar wine to drink both reds and whites at 8-10 years old.