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The Languedoc Roussillon holds the largest vineyard in France, making up about 40% of the French wine production and oldest wine region of France with vines introduced by the Greeks 5 centuries BC. These large vineyards had the reputation of producing a lot of poor-quality bulk wines. After a massive uprooting of vines during the 80s, the region achieved an astonishing upheaval that made the region's wines a lot more popular and accessible for new and worldwide consumers.
The vineyard in the Languedoc has been substantially restructured over the past 20 years in order to encourage such Mediterranean grape types as Grenache, Mourvèdre or Syrah, the star of all new plantations. In addition, applied research has enabled enhanced adaptation of the traditional grape types and improved cultivation. Separate vinification of the grape types, in accordance with their ripening and their reaction in the vat, is the basic rule. Upon completion of vinification, wine-growers concentrate on assembling the wine types.
To be accurate, the Languedoc’s appellation: “Minervois” is applied to a vast amphitheatre of 18000 hectares bordered by the Canal du Midi to the south, the Montagne Noire to the north and extending from the heights of Narbonne to the gates of Carcassonne. Since the 50’s, the Minervois’ vintners, have developed a policy of quality and were rewarded in 1985 with the French wine authority granting the Minervois AOC status. The red wines, which constitute the majority of wines produced there, are fleshy and full-bodied.
Young wines are well-structured and elegant, with aromas of black currant, violet, cinnamon and vanilla. Once aged, they display characteristics of leather, candied fruit and prunes. They have silky tannins and are full and long on the palate.
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