Domaine Thierry Navarre

Domaine Thierry Navarre

【The most respected natural grower in Saint-Chinian】

Thierry Navarre is something of an emblem of the Languedoc. Widely regarded as one of the most respected natural winemakers in the region, he makes wines praised for their depth, their complexity and their sense of place. He is known above all for carrying on his family's traditions while bringing back forgotten ancient varieties and low-alcohol grapes.

Thierry took over the family vineyards in 1988 and has devoted himself to 15 hectares in the beautiful village of Roquebrun. His vines are farmed organically and planted to a wonderfully varied cast, from the well known to the truly rare: Ribeyrenc, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Romorantin, Clairette, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Terret and Muscat à Petits Grains Blancs.

The parcels face south-west on friable brown schist. Those conditions give wines that are lighter, more mineral, finer and more elegant than those of southern Saint-Chinian. Le Vin d'Oeillades (a close relative of Cinsault) and Le Ribeyrenc — both low in alcohol and pale in colour — are prized among French sommeliers as hidden gems.

The fruit is picked by hand, some of it whole-bunch, some partly destemmed, then fermented naturally in concrete: certain cuvées by traditional methods, others by carbonic maceration. The wines spend twelve months in tank, in old 228L or 500L barrels, or in foudre. They are bottled unfined, with a light filtration and the barest trace of sulphur.