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'Who's Who' of top French winemakers
Domaine
Les Aurelles, Coteaux du Languedoc
Basile
Saint Germain, Karl Maugin
Basile Saint Germain and Karl Mauguin have a background of working in Bordeaux, but decided to come to the Languedoc and produce a fine wine of their own. They have selected ten and a half hectares on parcelles of land on specific soil equivalent to the graves of Bordeaux, in the region from Pézenas to Adissan. Unusually, they do not use any wood for the vinification of their reds, and only the white is vinified in barrique. Yields are typically around 26 hectolitres per hectare for the reds, and around 24 for the whites. The domaine covers 18 hectares, of which 12.5 are in production.
Solen is from a blend of two thirds Carignan, one third Grenache. The 2000 Solen is silky, supple, round and elegant, with ripe peppery juicy raspberry fruit, and is already attractive, with good weight and length. The 2001 is more peppery, with concentrated spicy fruit, soft rounded tannins, and good length. The Aurel Red is from 40% each Mourvèdre and Grenache, and 20% Syrah. The style of wine is bigger, fatter and more juicy, with elegant fruit, and even more pepper and spice. The 2000 is drinking well now. The 2001 will be bottled winter 2003/spring 2004.
The Aurel Blanc is now from 100% Roussanne, although it contained a small percentage of Clairette up to the 2000 vintage. The malo-lactic fermentation was blocked for this wine, to keep the grape acidity, and the wine is vinified in barrique, with bâtonnage. The 2001 is honeyed, buttery, and very scented and floral. It underwent partial malo-lactic. The 2000 is toasty, spicy and aromatic, with a buttery richness.
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