Description

Lovely deep purple colour with soft, ripe mulberries and blueberries on the nose and a sort of lush velvetiness to the tannins. The Syrah and Grenache fruit has a peppery, spicy edge and builds to a powerful finish.

More information

Catherine Wallace bought this 17 hectare vineyard in 2005 from Bertie Eden, a highly reputed winegrower. For the last 15 years it has been farmed following biodynamic principles and is certified by Ecocert. We visited here in November 2007 to taste the 2006 and 2007 wines.

The vineyard lies on rugged rocky limestone hillsides which force the vines to search deep for moisture and nutrients, while the surface pebbles and stones warmed by the day's sun reflect heat up into the vines by night, which is important for vineyards at altitude. Combebelle has three distinct “terroirs” (or soil structures) of red clay, sand, and broken stone (schist). This coupled with the micro-climate of each individual parcel of vineyard results in the expression of complex subtle flavours and tannins in the wines.

Combebelle’s vineyards and winery are situated in a natural, clean and unspoilt environment surrounded by “garrigue” which is full of wild flowers, plants and herbs that impart some of their flavour into our wines as well as providing natural protection against many diseases. Their only neighbours are an isolated goat farm producing International Award-winning organic cheeses.

At 265-300 metres, the highest vineyard in St Chinian, it has dramatic views to the Mediterranean and the distant Pyrenees, and is frequented by a variety of wildlife including deer and wild boar. At this altitude the vineyard is cooler and protected from the roasting summer heat in the plains below, allowing for a longer ripening period in which the grapes can absorb more of the complex characters and mature flavours of the terroir before the harvest begins.

Hand picking ensures that only the best grapes are used. Production volume is kept deliberately very low (25-30hl/ha) to ensure depth and refinement in the final product.

Suitable for Vegetarians