Terrasses du Larzac Le Pioch 2022 Les Vignes Oubliées | Languedoc

Les Terrasses du Larzac’s Le Pioch, from the Les Vignes Oubliées wine estate, was born from a simple idea by Jean-Baptiste Granier: to preserve vineyards doomed to disappear for economic reasons. The wine estate was founded by this former agricultural engineer, with the help of Olivier Jullien of Mas Jullien, a leading name in the Languedoc region. The project began in 2007 with a focus on very old vines located in the town of Saint-Privat, which were slated for removal for economic reasons. The grapes, from the Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault varieties, are partially destemmed before undergoing a 15- to 20-day fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel cuvées. Fermentation takes place without the addition of yeast, preserving the authentic expression of the terroir. The wine then undergoes ageing for 24 months in demi-muids, in a natural cave offering ideal temperature and humidity conditions for gentle ageing.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Les Terrasses du Larzac Le Pioch from the Les Vignes Oubliées wine estate is the culmination of the work of a passionate winemaker who seeks to preserve his heritage and produce terroir-driven wines.

The intense and complex nose reveals aromas of ripe black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant, accompanied by spicy notes of black pepper, licorice, and garrigue.

On the palate, the attack is full-bodied and velvety, with beautiful fruit concentration and a fine, silky tannic structure. The finish is long, marked by a mineral freshness and a slight salinity—the signature of the schist and limestone soils.