Coteaux du Salagou white 2024 Mas des Chimères | Languedoc

Description: Coteaux du Salagou White 2024 | Mas des Chimères

The Coteaux du Salagou white 2024 from Mas des Chimères is a cuvée that reflects all the uniqueness of its terroir. This family-owned estate, founded in 1993 by Guilhem Dardé in Octon on the shores of Lake Salagou, quickly earned a reputation for its wines of character. In this sun-kissed cuvée, the minerality and energy of the terroir come together to create an authentic Languedoc white.

Terroirs and Grape Varieties

The vineyard is situated on a variety of soils, including basaltic and volcanic plateaus, red clay, and sandstone. These substrates, dating back some 25 million years, are particularly poor and well-drained, which forces the vines to draw their nutrients from deep within the soil. The result is a wine that combines the warmth of the Mediterranean climate with the freshness of the Salagou highlands. The blend is remarkably complex for a white wine from this appellation, as six grape varieties contribute to the cuvée: Terret, Viognier, Chardonnay, White Grenache, White Carignan, and Roussanne. Each brings its own personality: freshness and minerality from the Terret, floral and spicy notes from the Viognier and Roussanne, and roundness and body from the White Grenache. A balanced blend that gives this white wine its full complexity.

Viticulture and Winemaking

The estate is certifiedorganic. The grapes are harvested by hand in the early morning hours to preserve the berries’ full aromatic freshness. After direct pressing, fermentation takes place in barrels using indigenous yeasts, allowing the terroir’s character to fully express itself. Aging continues for 10 months on fine lees, imparting texture, depth, and complexity to the wine without ever masking its natural freshness.

Coteaux du Salagou white 2024 | Mas des Chimères: The Sommelier’s Review

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin

This white wine captivates with its authenticity and respect for the terroir. With this cuvée, Guilhem Dardé prioritizes expressing the terroir rather than seeking flashy effects. Despite its six grape varieties, the blend remains perfectly balanced, combining Mediterranean richness with mineral freshness. Set to reach its peak in 2027, it can be cellared or enjoyed now, served at 11°C with red mullet confit in olive oil. A white wine with character—as distinctive as it is affordable—that offers remarkable value for the price.

The Nose

The nose opens with delicate floral notes, ranging from white flowers to light hints of peony, accompanied by sweet spices, white pepper, and a touch of cardamom. The Viognier contributes its finesse without overpowering the blend. In the background, a minerality reminiscent of warm stone evokes the basalt soils of Octon and defines the identity of this terroir.

Palate

On the palate, the attack is fresh and crisp, followed by a body that proves rich and generous, with a silky texture that is never heavy. A lovely acidity structures the wine and gives it verticality, while the finish lingers with subtle bitter notes and a slight hint of saltiness—the signature of the ancient Permian soils. An elegant white wine full of character that leaves a lasting impression.

Les Coteaux du Salagou: An Appellation Worth Discovering

Les Coteaux du Salagou is one of the Languedoc’s least well-known appellations. The vineyards stretch around the volcanic Lake Salagou in the Hérault department, on terroirs with a unique geological diversity. This diversity of soils, combined with the coolness provided by the lake and the elevation, gives rise to aromatic, fresh whites marked by a beautiful minerality.