Carrière Pradal - Domaine de la Massole 2018
Carrière Pradal is located between Béziers and Pézenas, in the Languedoc. The farm is managed by Catherine and Baptiste Pradal. In the 1980s, an immense work of improving the vine population was undertaken, with the aim of eliminating the post-phylloxera grape varieties of big production and replacing them with grape varieties present before phylloxera (Grenache Blanc and Noir, Mourvèdre or Syrah). The property extends in one piece of vineyards, olive groves, scrubland and forests. Helped by the Hérault Water Syndicate, they are taking part in an agroforestry project, a gradual tree-planting campaign by adding hedges of trees and various shrubs. They also have several beehives on the estate, promoting biodiversity and are in the process of converting to organic farming.
The cuvée Domaine de la Massole is a blend of Syrah (50%), Grenache (30%) and Mourvèdre (20%) from old vines. After manual harvesting, the harvest is destemmed upon arrival at the cellar. The pumping-over are limited. The wine is racked, then matured in stainless steel vats until bottling the following summer.
Grape varieties: 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre