Bousquette
St. Chinian, Languedoc
Until 1789 (the onset of the French Revolution) the Domaine of Bousquette belonged to the Abbey of Fontcaude. After the Revolution and the expropriation of the Church properties it was then acquired by Sieur Moustelou of Cessenon.
He was the first of a long succession of wine-makers. The family Fabre-Ginoulhac owned the property until 1996; but already in 1972 they began to follow the principles of the “Nature and Progress” approach to vine cultivation. Since then the Domaine has been certified organic by Ecocert.
In 1996, Eric and Isabelle Perret, a Swiss couple, fell in love with the area and the vineyard and purchased it. They too were totally convinced of the great value of “biological” farming and since they took over Chateau Bousquette, they have continually restructured and improved all aspects of the property – always aiming at producing even better biologically grown wines.
The Bousquette Philosophy is simple:
“Let the Earth bring forth the best it can give, without artificial stimulation, while respecting Nature and the health and well-being of those who consume her. Get the help of the light, the warmth of the sun and the stimulation of the wind to produce healthy grapes and wines which give both well-being and great pleasure.”
Producing Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault on clay, limestone soils, the vineyards of Chateau Bousquette are situated on the flanks of a valley, above the Orb river and the town of Cessenon, 15 km north/west of the City of Beziers in the South of France, Saint-Chinian AOC.
The family’s 25 hectares of vines are surrounded by the “Garrigue” wilderness, which greatly helps to keep the vines within the norms of biological cultivation. The vineyards are located between 100 and 150 m above sea level and the vines are pruned according to traditional methods (called “en cordon de Royat”) and Guyot. The average age of the wines 30-35 years. Grape harvesting by hand and by machine. The Perrets use traditional minimalist vinification methods with careful temperature control.
Cuvee Absolu
- A Mourvedre blend
- aged in oak barrels12 months before blending with Grenache and old vine Carignan.
Rosé
- Produced by gravity flow of the juices of Cinsault, Syrah and Genache.
- Yield: about 35 hl per hectare
Mas des Huppes – Tradition
- Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignan
- 30 hl/ha Yield
- Two years in steel
- Intense pure fruit.
