Les Traverses de Fontanes Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Les Traverses de Fontanes is a distinguished wine label created by Cyriaque Rozier, the acclaimed winemaker and vineyard manager at Château La Roque in Pic Saint-Loup. Operating under the Château Fontanes name, Rozier produces this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon from his personal vineyard project that began in 2003.

The vineyard represents an ultimate labor of love in the challenging Languedoc terroir. Located on land previously known for olive trees until the devastating frost of 1956, the site features extraordinarily difficult conditions with limestone and clay soils as hard as rock. Rozier has painstakingly built stone terraces by hand to protect the steep terrain from erosion, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to quality viticulture.

Les Traverses de Fontanes comes from 50-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines farmed using biodynamic principles across 4.5 hectares. The original vine cuttings were carefully selected from Rozier's favorite domaines in prestigious regions including Côte-Rôtie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Bandol, reflecting his perfectionist approach to winemaking.

Since Cabernet Sauvignon falls outside Pic Saint-Loup appellation constraints, the wine carries the Vin de Pays d'Oc designation. Rozier ferments and ages the wine entirely in concrete tanks to preserve the purity of fruit expression without oak influence. This approach creates wines with remarkable value, showcasing the grape's adaptability to the garrigue-saturated limestone rubble of the region.

The result is an organic, biodynamic Cabernet Sauvignon that exemplifies rustic elegance, combining concentrated fruit flavors with the distinctive mineral character of its limestone terroir, all while maintaining exceptional drinkability and representing outstanding value in the French wine landscape.

Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest wine-producing region in France, located along the Mediterranean coast in the south of the country. The region extends from the Spanish border in the west to the Rhône River delta in the east, covering approximately 240,000 hectares of vineyards. The region is now officially designated as Occitanie, though the wine areas retain their historical names of Languedoc and Roussillon.

The climate is predominantly Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The region receives approximately 300 days of sunshine annually. The Tramontane wind from the northwest and the Marin wind from the Mediterranean influence vineyard conditions. Rainfall averages 500-600mm per year, concentrated primarily in spring and autumn.

The geography varies considerably across the region. Coastal plains near the Mediterranean transition to hillside vineyards and mountainous terrain inland. The Corbières, Minervois, and Pic Saint-Loup areas feature elevated vineyard sites. Soil types include limestone, schist, clay, galets roulés (rounded pebbles), and sandstone depending on location.

Red grape varieties dominate plantings in Languedoc-Roussillon. Carignan historically covered large areas and remains significant, particularly from old vines. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault are widely planted. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are grown in certain areas. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino (locally called Rolle), Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Viognier. Macabeu is important in Roussillon.

The region contains numerous appellations. Major AOCs include Corbières, Minervois, Fitou, Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Pic Saint-Loup, Terrasses du Larzac, and Côtes du Roussillon. Limoux produces sparkling Blanquette de Limoux and Crémant de Limoux. Banyuls and Maury are known for vin doux naturel, fortified sweet wines made primarily from Grenache. The regional Languedoc AOC allows blending across sub-regions.

Historically, Languedoc-Roussillon focused on bulk wine production for the French market. Phylloxera devastated vineyards in the late 19th century, followed by replanting with high-yielding varieties. The region supplied large quantities of table wine throughout the 20th century. Beginning in the 1980s, focus shifted toward quality production with lower yields and better grape varieties.

The region has become significant for natural wine production over the past two decades. Many producers farm organically or biodynamically and practice minimal intervention winemaking. Estates like Les Petites Mises represent this approach with old-vine Carignan and traditional varieties vinified without additives or sulfites.

Wine styles range from light, fruity reds to structured, age-worthy wines from hillside sites. White wines include fresh, aromatic styles and fuller-bodied expressions. Rosé production is substantial, particularly near the coast. The diversity of terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking approaches produces a wide range of wines from Languedoc-Roussillon.

The region's combination of favorable climate, diverse soils, old vines, and innovative winemakers has established Languedoc-Roussillon as an important source of both traditional and natural wines from southern France.