Domaine La Madura is located in the small appellation of Saint-Chinian, in the larger winegrowing region of France’s Languedoc. The terroir of Saint-Chinian is known for being incredibly complex—riddled with wavering microclimates, intricate combinations of soil types and varying altitudes. While many winegrowers and winemakers view this kind of complexity in one small appellation as a challenge, Cyril and Nadia Bourgne fell in love with the region’s diversity and saw it as a strength when they purchased the estate in 1998. This husband and wife team has always had a serious passion for great terroir and incredible wines; Nadia worked in the tourist industry and gained an appreciation for wine before beginning to work in the vineyards and cellar with Cyril—who had extensive work experience and education in Biochemistry, Genetics and Oenology before buying the estate. Together, they are a powerhouse couple in the Languedoc and their wines are making everyone think twice about the Saint-Chinian appellation.

Cyril and Nadia are fully committed to sustaining a diverse biological system in their vines; they work organically and never use chemicals, plough the soils, add organic compost, plant cover crops in winter and spring, thin the leaves when necessary, and analyze the soils to maintain impeccable health so that the grapes thrive. These labor-intensive practices show their dedication to producing grapes of the highest quality, and when combined with the varied terroir of the region, the resulting wines are powerful and full of serious character. Their Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache and old, gnarly Carignan vines are planted at elevations ranging from ~500 feet to ~1,000 feet; soil combinations are different for each varietal plot and consist of clay, limestone, sandstone and shale. In some vineyard plots, the wind blows strong, but less so in others—this is all a part of the diverse microclimates of the region and what makes the 2010 Grand Vin so special. Together, the varied terroir creates a wine comprised of the four varietals with stunning character, immense complexity and serious depth.

For the production of the 2010 Grand Vin, each varietal is fermented separately after being handpicked and then de-stemmed. The Mourvèdre and Syrah undergo fermentation in barrels, while the Grenache and old vine Carignan undergo fermentation in concrete tanks. All of the varieties are matured in barrels on their lees for twelve months—creating fullness and finesse on the palate when finished. The final blend for the incredible 2010 vintage is 45% Mourvèdre, 41% Syrah, 8% Grenache and 6% old vine Carignan. This is a profound wine and there are few wines in the world holding this level of perfection—combining wild and complex fruit notes with perfect freshness, minerality and structure. This wine is one of a kind.