Situated about 30 km northwest of Montpellier in the Languedoc region, within the Terrasses du Larzac AOC, Domaine de Montcalmès is a family-run estate established in 1998 by the talented Frédéric Pourtalié. Frédéric Pourtalié honed his skills working for two of the masters of the winemaking art , Laurent Vaille at Grange des Pères and Syrah master Alain Graillot in Crozes-Hermitage.
The Domaine spans 22 hectares, with vineyards planted at altitudes ranging from 150 to 350 meters. This elevation, along with a mix of limestone, clay, and galets roulés soils, creates an ideal environment for cultivating high-quality grapes
Domaine de Montcalmès is fully certified as organic. . This approach not only preserves the health of the soil but also promotes biodiversity within the vineyards. The vines, pruned using the Cordon de Royat method, are tended meticulously, with plowing and manual green harvesting keeping yields at a restrained 20-25 hL/ha.
The estate’s vineyards benefit from the cooling influence of the nearby Larzac plateau, which creates a significant diurnal temperature range. This variation is crucial for preserving the acidity and enhancing the aromatic complexity of the grapes. Harvesting is done by hand, often in multiple passes, to ensure optimal ripeness for each grape.
In the cellar, Frédéric Pourtalié employs a combination of traditional and modern techniques to capture the full potential of the terroir. Each grape variety for the Terrasses du Larzac blend is vinified separately. The grapes are completely destemmed and crushed, followed by direct pressing and fermentation over indigenous yeasts for about 30 days. Periodic pigeage is used to gently extract flavors and tannins.
Aging occurs in a mix of new and used French oak barrels, sourced from the prestigious Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC). The use of these barrels imparts subtle complexity to the wines without overwhelming the fruit. The wines are aged separately for 24 months before being assembled in tanks for two months. In keeping with biodynamic principles, the wines are bottled unfiltered, following the phases of the waning moon
Domaine de Montcalmès produces two highly regarded wines. The Terrasses du Larzac red blend, composed of Syrah (60%), Grenache (20%), and Mourvèdre (20%), is celebrated for its dark fruit flavors, savory spice notes, and well-integrated tannins. This wine showcases the unique characteristics of the terroir and possesses a remarkable ability to age and develop complexity over time.
In addition, the estate produces a Marsanne-Roussanne blend (50%/50%), classified as Côteaux du Languedoc since the Terrasses du Larzac AOC is designated for red wines only.
