It is hard not to open the Corbières Demoiselle, smell the garrigue, spices, and notes of dark fruit and olives soar from your glass, and think, “Only from the Languedoc can we drink a wine made from century-old vines with this much class and ageability for this price.”
From north to south, the Languedoc has made great strides in recent years in proving that it is a region full of noteworthy terroirs and outstanding wines. But, in reality, there has been proof of this for decades. Take Domaine de Fontsainte’s Réserve, for example, which Kermit began importing in the mid-eighties. It’s made with Carignan vines so old—over a hundred years—they would fill any vigneron with envy. And it comes from one of Corbières’ best sites, surrounding the hamlet of Boutenac in the area known as “The Golden Crescent.”
This swath of land is one of the sunniest in Corbières, and a nearby 500-hectare forest protects it from the region’s cold northeast winds. Hailing from a rugged and windswept hillside vineyard that benefits from just the right amount of sunlight and drainage, La Demoiselle is full of character, soul, and deliciousness. Succulent and beautifully balanced, it evokes dark fruit, leather, and spice and would pair perfectly with pretty much anything right off the grill.
