Domaine de Majas sits in the altitude vineyards of the Agly valley, where Alain Carrère has his roots and his wife Agnès brought a Parisian outsider's perspective. Together they turned a traditional family holding into one of Roussillon's most quietly compelling natural estates.
Backstory
Alain and Agnès Carrère founded Domaine de Majas in 1992. Seeking to draw more from their land, Alain reached out to Tom Lubbe, the South African vigneron behind Domaine Matassa and brother-in-law of Gérard Gauby. After tasting the wines, Lubbe agreed to help rebuild the estate from the ground up, guiding a partnership that reshaped both vineyard and cellar.
The Region
The estate spans roughly 30 hectares, all in the commune of Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes in the Côtes Catalanes, high in the Fenouillèdes near the Pyrénées-Orientales. Some parcels hold old vines over 120 years of age.
Vineyards and Farming
The Carrères converted to organic, chemical-free viticulture in 2006 and 2007. The soils are diverse, mixing schist, volcanic stone, and mountain limestone. Plantings include Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Chenanson, Macabeu, Rolle, and Chardonnay.
Winemaking
Under Lubbe's guidance the estate eliminated commercial yeasts, additives, and excessive sulfur. He calls his approach here cultivated minimalism. Fermentations take place in concrete tanks with native yeasts, yielding wines of low alcohol and surprising aromatic density.
The Wines
Majas produces fresh, drinkable reds, whites, and rosés, including the Majas Rouge and a Chardonnay Réserve, that capture the cool altitude character of the upper Agly.
