The name translates as the cicadas in the anthill, borrowed from folk-rock band La Rue Ketanou and meant as a reminder to make room for song and laughter through the grind of daily work. Behind it are Julie Brosselin and Ivo Ferreira, partners in life and wine, working roughly 10 hectares of scattered organic parcels in the high backcountry above Montpeyroux in the Languedoc.
Backstory
Julie and Ivo pooled their skills and resources and started the label in 2016 with 4 hectares of organic vines. As they took on more remote parcels in the Languedoc backcountry, the estate grew to around 10 hectares. Julie trained at Le Petit Domaine, while Portuguese-born Ivo had worked alongside respected names such as Jean-Marc Brignot and Chateau Le Puy, and the two brought that combined experience to a venture built, in their words, on love.
The Region
Montpeyroux lies about 30 km from the Mediterranean in the arid, stony foothills of the Larzac, on the southern edge of the Massif Central. The altitude and rocky ground bring cooler nights and natural freshness, which the couple use to make wines that are typically lighter and brighter than most in the Languedoc, a region better known for power and heat.
Vineyards & Farming
The roughly 10 hectares are farmed organically with minimal intervention, spread across scattered, isolated parcels deep in the hills. Plantings include both reds and whites: Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah, and Merlot among the reds, with Grenache Blanc and Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains among the whites. The remoteness of the parcels keeps them clean and undisturbed.
Winemaking
Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The wines age in large old barrels without fining or filtration, and sulphur is used only sparingly, when judged absolutely necessary. The couple are happy to break convention, including a white made from Grenache Noir and occasional co-ferments of whites and reds.
The Wines
The range is fresh and textural, with macerated orange wines a particular strength, layered with dried herbs, candied citrus, stone fruit, and subtle spice. Bottlings include Maree Basse, the Escarpolette whites and oranges, On Verra la Mer, and the macerated white La Polonaise. The name itself, drawn from a La Rue Ketanou song, frames the whole project as a reminder to make time for song, dance, and laughter.
