Mas Champart Saint-Chinian Rosé 2024

Mas Champart stands as the benchmark estate of Saint-Chinian, established in 1976 when Isabelle and Mathieu Champart took over Domaine Bramefan. Despite banks refusing to support their venture, telling them there was no future in their corner of the Languedoc, the couple persevered with remarkable vision. Starting with just a humble stone farmhouse, they initially sold grapes to the local cooperative for twelve years before bottling their first vintage under their own label in 1988.

The division of labor proved ideal: Mathieu tends the vineyards while Isabelle crafts the wines. Over four decades, they expanded their holdings from eight to twenty-five hectares, building a modern winery while preserving traditional winemaking methods. Their terraced vineyards flourish on distinctive limestone and clay soils, with some plots featuring century-old Carignan and Terret vines planted in 1900, alongside old Grenache Gris.

Mas Champart has become synonymous with quality in Saint-Chinian, particularly excelling with Mourvèdre, which thrives in their Mediterranean climate. Their commitment to sustainable and increasingly organic farming practices reflects their dedication to preserving the environment and expressing terroir authentically. The estate produces wines across all three colors, with reds showing remarkable aging potential and complexity.

Located on limestone hills two kilometers from Saint-Chinian village, surrounded by garrigue scrubland, Mas Champart captures the wild aromatics of rosemary, thyme, and lavender that define the region. After forty-plus years, they've created a lasting legacy as one of the Languedoc's most respected producers.

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.