who? what? when? where? why? how?
who grows the grapes? who makes the wines?
All grapes are grown on their 40 acre estate, all of which will be certified organic in 2012, and the couple makes the wines themselves.
what wines do they make?
The white “Density” is a blend of Vermentino and Roussane that has more natural acidity than one might expect. It’s the wine that first attracted us to the estate.
View wine tech sheets
Density
La Sentinelle
Zappa
when did the winery start? when might you open a bottle?
The Bourdic’s bottles are wines that open easily – not literally, at least no more than others – as they pair with a wide variety of foods. Zappa’s red fruit pops from the glass and is lighter than many wines from the area, so you can try it with grilled or dried meats and dishes with tomatoes, especially if they are dried. Sentinelle has more tannin thanks to it’s time in oak, but is not overly weighty; a cheese plate is a good a friend as a T-Bone here. Their white, Density, has a lot of fruit but none of the high toned alcohol that so many southern whites show, so it too is light on it’s feet when it comes to pairing.
where is the winery?
The estate sites on three levels. The lowest parcels benefit from the rich alluvial soil deposited by the Herault river. The area is full of volcanoes and the soil is consequently diverse. The parcels on the top two tiers of the estate are largely limestone but they are infused with diverse rocks from schist to marne to bauxite thanks to the areas violent geological past. One is left with the impression of a varied set of inputs where no single soil dominates.
why is it a candid wine? why might you want to taste?
As for their quirkiness, it is restrained. 16% of old vine tempranillo is blended into the Syrah and Grenache of Zappa, giving the wine a note of Spain wrapped in a coat of garrigue. La Sentinelle is Cabernet aged for three years before release, but its only $12-$13 on the shelf. Density is actually fairly light, with some soft melon aromas and tastes. The quirkiness is not bold, but it’s present and it’s alluring.
how is it made?
“When you play an instrument you must practise each day. Each repetition of a scale, played the very best you can, takes you closer to the performance you have in mind. When I prune a vine I think only of the vine I am pruning, not the thousands waiting to be pruned. Each vine has a character and a desire for air that needs to be found and encouraged. I prune each one knowing what kind of wine I have in mind; how and why I want that wine to be. It’s a desire to produce what I imagine.“
