Description
Near to the market town of Pézenas on the edge of the Mediterranean, we’ve been buying wine from the Cabrol family for over thirty years. They have 50 hectares of vines alongside the oyster beds of the Bassin de Thau. It’s here that they cultivate an amazing 14 different grape varieties. Marc Cabrol is the head of the current generation and he has put an enormous amount of energy into developing wines from Picpoul de Pinet, the standout wine from the region.
Marc has moved away from chemical fertilisers and introduced organic methods into the family vineyard. In the winter sheep are seen to roam amongst the vines. They eat the weeds, being particularly fond of fausse roquette and in return they fertilise the soil. This avoids the use of tractors to weed and the compaction of soil they cause.
We were delighted to see that the domaine continues to be run as a family business with Marc’s sons, Guillaume and Baptiste, lending a hand in the school holidays! Following vigneron tradition, Marc has named two other special cuvées, a red and white, after his sons.
In 2024 the Picpoul ripened so well that, for the first time, we are featuring an offer with three different cuvées, each with its individual characteristics.
We are offering a Mixed Half Dozen of 2 bottles of each of the following:
Domaine des Lauriers Classic 2024
AOP Picpoul de Pinet
From an argil0-calcaire terroir of clay and lime, which is covered with pebbly cailloutis.
Pale lemon in colour, this has a mouthwatering fresh, saline nose. On the palate, there is delicious concentrated peachy fruit with underlying salinity ending with a twist of lemon zest and a hint of spritz. It finishes with racy acidity and good length. Classic Picpoul in every way! Perfect with mussels or any shellfish.
Domaine des Lauriers Prestige 2024
AOP Picpoul de Pinet
This sandy marnes terroir, which is close to the sea, advances ripening.
Also pale lemon, it has a riper nose, with a touch of pineapple. The texture is softer, the fruit riper, mirroring the pineapple on the nose. The acidity is gentler and it finishes with a twist of grapefruit. Deliciously easy to quaff!
Domaine des Lauriers Gold 2023
AOP Picpoul de Pinet
This third wine is from an argile terroir, predominantly of clay which helps retain moisture,.
The colour has a tinge of green. This special cuvée is made only from a selection of the ripest grapes and vinified with extended lees contact and regular stirring of the lees – battonage. A small percentage is vinified in oak and added to the blend, producing a ripe, full-on Picpoul with more complexity than usual.
There is a honeyed nose with a hint of vanilla, which leads into a richer, more complex wine with an attractive mineral character. There is a twist of bitter orange at the finish with great length. His best Cuvée Gold so far!
