When Olivier Coste walks the volcanic and clay-limestone soils of Domaine Montrose, he is following a path worn by eight generations of his family before him. The estate near Pezenas has been producing wine continuously since 1701, and today Olivier runs it alongside his father Bernard with a commitment to organic farming, carbon neutrality, and the rescue of nearly vanished Languedoc grape varieties.
Backstory
The Coste family's relationship with this corner of the Languedoc was formalized in 1701 when ancestor Joseph Alazard received a coat of arms featuring three lizards, an emblem that still appears on every bottle. Olivier grew up among the vines and in the family cellar, developing a deep attachment to the region's terroir that led him to return as a professional vigneron and carry the estate forward as its ninth generation. He operates the estate under the name Bernard et Olivier Coste, reflecting the father-son partnership that defines the current chapter.
The Region
Domaine Montrose sits in the Coteaux du Libron, part of the broader Languedoc appellation between Beziers and the Mediterranean. The estate's vines occupy the sides of two volcanic formations, Montrose and Montredon, which give the domaine its name. The combination of marine influence from the nearby sea and the elevation of the volcanic slopes produces a distinctive microclimate for southern France, with freshness that counterbalances the region's characteristic warmth.
Vineyards & Farming
Sixty-five hectares of vines surround the estate house in a single block, giving Coste precise control over every management decision. Soils range from clay-limestone to Villafranchian terraces composed of small round pebbles, nutrient-poor and well-draining, to volcanic material on the crater slopes. Coste farms organically, replacing herbicides with mechanical cultivation and pesticides with pheromone diffusers. Pomace is composted and returned to the soil. More than 2,000 trees have been planted across the estate for biodiversity, and all production is certified carbon-neutral through verified offset projects.
Winemaking
Coste works with traditional southern varietals, with particular emphasis on grapes that are disappearing from the region. Carignan Blanc, of which fewer than 250 hectares remain worldwide, is a centerpiece of his work. He also vinifies Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Viognier across two main ranges: a Classic collection of fruit-forward, aromatic wines, and the Languedoc Stars series dedicated to heritage varieties. Winemaking is quiet and precise, guided by finesse over power.
The Wines
The Languedoc Stars range includes Old Star Carignan, Rare Carignan Blanc, and Orange Star, a skin-contact white. The Classic range covers a rosé under the Mont Rose label, a Cinsault, and an Illegal Mourvèdre, a name that nods to the variety's former exclusion from the appellation's approved list. The flagship 1701 cuvee commemorates the estate's founding year with a wine built for the cellar.
