Château St Jacques d’Albas in Laure-Minervois is run by Englishman Graham Nutter and his French wife Beatrice. They came here a few years ago, “when everything was in ruins” and now they have a beautifully renovated 80-hectare estate in the heart of Languedoc.
We first got in touch with Graham about five years ago and since then we have regularly visited the estate and tasted the wines. We liked the wines from the beginning and over the years they have improved even more.
I like the balance in the wines, the clean and fresh fruit and the refreshing acidity. They are quite light and elegant in the body but with complex flavours. This is the kind of wine that Graham wants to make. Wines to go with food, wines that are not too heavy.
He points out well that the cooling system was one of his most important investments. “In a climate that often gives us 35 degrees during the harvest in September it is an indispensable tool”, he says, “and one reason that we can make high quality rosé wines.”
And his rosé is really good. It’s a syrah-grenache blend with a tiny bit of mourvèdre which is fermented at cool temperature. A structured and dry rosé that smells of summer fruits and roses.
Here is their web site: www.chateaustjacques.com
Video:
We also have a video interview with Graham Nutter where he talks about how it started and what he does.
[box type=”info”]Languedoc is also one of our favourite wine regions and we regularly organise wine tours there. Take a look at the BKWine Tours program of wine and food tours.[/box]
