The northern Medoc is not where most people look for natural wine. But Benoit Joussot-Dubien saw something in it: old vines, varied soils, and a price of land that made a small project viable. In 2020 he founded Les Terres Dubien, assembling three hectares across the villages of Saint-Yzans-du-Medoc, Couqueques, and Lesparre, working each parcel as its own distinct entity rather than blending them into anonymity.
The Vineyards and Soils
The three parcels span notably different geology. The Saint-Yzans plot sits on limestone; the Lesparre vines grow in sandy soils; and a third parcel features clay-limestone. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec are the principal varieties, reflecting the Medoc's traditional palette. Farming follows organic and biodynamic principles, with plant infusions sourced from the estate or the surrounding Medoc countryside, minimal copper and sulfur sprays, and hand harvesting with the help of friends each vintage.
Winemaking
Joussot-Dubien vinifies with native yeasts and targets gentle extraction, avoiding pumping over where possible to keep the wines fresh and the tannins supple. Wines age 8 to 18 months in a combination of vats and old barrels, depending on the cuvee. Bottling happens without fining or filtration, with total SO2 levels held between 0 and 30 mg/L across the range.
The Wines
The estate produces four wines: Initial BC, a direct and approachable Cabernet-Merlot blend; Synopsis, the more structured Medoc rouge; Un Coup d'Ma Doc, a lighter, early-drinking version of the appellation; and L'Etoile du Berger, named for a tiny star-shaped fossil found in the vineyard's limestone. Each label reflects a different facet of the northern Medoc, handled without the weight that has so often been the region's default mode.
