Thomas Angles works in the garrigue-scented hills near Cessenon-sur-Orb and Saint-Chinian in the Herault, where the Languedoc gets rugged and the old vines are genuinely old. His five-hectare estate sits at 250 metres elevation in limestone-clay and silt soils, and the dry-farmed vines he tends are the unglamorous, resilient varieties that built southern France's reputation long before anyone was calling it natural wine.
The Vineyard
Aramon, Carignan, Grenache, Alicante, and Syrah form the palette, with a small amount of Muscat a Petits Grains used as a field blend in some cuvees. Thomas has farmed organically and biodynamically since at least 2020, and the health of his old dry-farmed vines reflects years of careful stewardship. At 250 metres, the nights are cool enough to preserve the freshness that low-altitude Languedoc often lacks.
In the Cellar
Natural yeasts, no additives, no filtration, and minimal sulfur are the consistent choices. Thomas produces exclusively red wines, believing the terroir and the material speak clearly enough without manipulation.
The Wines
Ephemere, a blend of Aramon, Grenache Noir, and Muscat a Petits Grains, is the estate's most playful expression: aromatic, light, and genuinely surprising for the Languedoc. The VDF Carignan, from one of the most underrated grapes in France, delivers earthy, tobacco-edged depth that rewards a bit of age. Coeur Grenadine rounds out a small, focused lineup that punches well above its modest scale.
