Chateau Cesseras is just one part of the larger Domaine Coudelet, owned by brothers Jean-Yves and Pierre-Andre Ournac. They are joined by Guillaume (Jean-Yves’ son), Camille and Fanely (Pierre-Andre’s son and daughter). Camille is the highly qualified winemaker with stints at several top wineries around the world. Fanely, an agricultural engineer, comes to the enterprise after 10 years in bio-dynamic farming. The Ournac family, now in the 8^th generation of ownership, carry on a winemaking tradition the goes back to 1840, when the estate was first established. Of course, the region, Minervois, is much older than that, with human habitation dating back 8000 years and winemaking tracing its origins to early Roman times.

Located in the village of Cessaras, nestled in the foothills between Carcassonne and Narbonne, approximately 50 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea, the vineyards of Chateau Cesseras, planted in clay and limestone soils, bask in the southern French sunshine and cool in the nighttime temperatures afforded by their elevation and proximity to the sea. These are ideal conditions for growing and making dark, concentrated red wines that are full of the character of the wild countryside, typically described as “garrigue”; the aromatic herbs, wildflowers and scrubby brush that infuse the local atmosphere. The 2022 Minervois Cuvée Olric, a blend of 50% Syrah, 20% Carignan and 30% Mourvedre, offers plenty of this attractive earthiness alongside a healthy dollop of dark fruit and savory spices. Better yet, this moderately-priced French country wine is the genuine article and a sure-fire bargain. I’d compare it favorably to wines costing twice as much. Enjoy!