Our customers have discovered Cinsault. Two of the most popular red wines that leave the shop in consistent volume are this wine, the Mas de Chimeres, “Oeillade,” and the L’Argentier, Cinsault. We love them both.
The Mas de Chimeres is another independent, family-owned small domain. The mas is worked full-time by just 4 people– the Dardé family (husband, wife and daughter) and one other employee. Like most of the Lanquedoc, the domain grows a variety of grapes– Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, and Merlot. Syrah is the backbone of most of the Languedoc blends. In fact, 70% of the vines at Mas de Chimeres are planted to Syrah, with only 5% planted with Cinsault. Organically-farmed in the iron-rich soils around Salagou, fermentation relies on indigenous yeasts (and is, therefore, slower, progressing with a series of fits and starts) because, Dardé believes, they are the “true revealer of terroir.” The Oeillade combines juicy fruit flavors with a stony minerality to give our customers a most satisfying wine.