Marc Castan grew up in the maritime Corbières near Narbonne, torn between a love of the sea and the land. After school he trained in viticulture and in 2003 took over his grandfather's vineyard, working first within a cooperative before striking out alone.
Backstory
Castan vinified his first cuvées under the Domaine Mamaruta name in 2009, reclaiming the family vines as his own project.
The Region
The estate lies on the Audois coast within the Fitou appellation, around the commune of La Palme between Roquefort-des-Corbières and Leucate. Its roughly 12 to 14 hectares sit on a rich terroir that ranges from rolled pebbles at a lagoon's edge to clay-limestone soils facing the Mediterranean.
Vineyards and Farming
Castan works the soil gently, gradually replacing the tractor with a horse and weeding by hand. He plants hedgerows, makes his own compost, and in 2013 introduced a herd of rustic Highland and Jersey cattle that graze year-round, mowing and fertilizing the parcels naturally. He treats only with sulfur, green clay, and plant decoctions of chamomile, nettle, dandelion, lavender, and rosemary, applying biodynamic practices without certification. Reds come from Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan; whites from Macabeu, white Carignan, Grenache gris, and Muscat à petits grains.
Winemaking
In the cellar Castan does nothing to tamper with the juice. He uses no cultured yeast, does not de-acidify, and does not fine his wines. Fermentations are natural with minimal sulfite additions.
The Wines
The result is a lineup of expressive, sea-air Mediterranean wines that carry the salt and stone of the Fitou littoral.
