DOMAINE CANET VALETTECessenon-sur-Orb
• Organic since 1999 • Marc Valette • Founded 1992 • 9ha • Shipping since 2014
Background
When Marc Valette took over his grandfather’s vines he stopped selling grapes to the local Cooperative and replanted most of his domaine – he had quality in mind. Organic farming began in 1999, and a multi-level gravity fed winery built, neither common in St Chinian at the time. Marc is passionate about making wines of authenticity and undoing the damage of industrial viticulture. Over time Marc has come to appreciate elegance and refinement and view over-extraction as an obstructer of terroir. He practices a long, gentle cuvaison to delicately extract the full character from his grapes without harsh tannins. Sulphur is used sparingly, often just a little before bottling. His wines are beautifully pure, with cool fruit and unusual freshness. They age very well.
Current Vintages
| Red Wines | Vintage |
|---|---|
| St Chinian Une et Mille Nuits [Read More] Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache & Carignan. Fermentation is long and slow, with a cuvaison of around 70 days. Then aged in 80% demi-Muid and 20% concrete for 30 months. | 2020 |
| St Chinian Ivresses [Read More] A 35-year old vineyard planted to 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah, a single sloped parcel at an altitude of 150ms, facing south. The soil is clay over limestone. Marc wants Grenache of finesse and freshness, and this site provides it. Fully destemmed before 70 days in vat followed by 12 months in stainless steel to retain freshness and purity. Super elegant. | 2021 |
| St Chinian Maghani [Read More] 50/50 Syrah & Mourvèdre. A thin layer of clay over limestone gives naturally low yields, often below 20hl/ha. Fully destemmed. This sees Marc’s long cuvaison, 70-90 days, before spending 24 months in a mix of 20% Amphorae, which keeps fruit and freshness, and 80% demi-muid. No fining or filtration. | 2019 |
| St Chinian Maghani [Read More] 50/50 Syrah & Mourvèdre. A thin layer of clay over limestone gives naturally low yields, often below 20hl/ha. Fully destemmed. This sees Marc’s long cuvaison, 70-90 days, before spending 24 months in a mix of 20% Amphorae, which keeps fruit and freshness, and 80% demi-muid. No fining or filtration. | 2017 |
| St Chinian Maghani [Read More] 50/50 Syrah & Mourvèdre. A thin layer of clay over limestone gives naturally low yields, often below 20hl/ha. Fully destemmed. This sees Marc’s long cuvaison, 70-90 days, before spending 24 months in demi-muid. No fining or filtration. | 2008 |
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