vins doux natural aging at Mas Amiel in Maury in the Roussillon

I spent part of last week in Montpellier at two wines shows that showcase organic and bio-dynamic wines, Millisime Bio and a sort of alternative young winemaker show, La Remise.

La Remise seemed more like a gathering of friends than wine event.

I tasted some exciting wine at both shows but found many of the dry wines from the Roussillon especially impressive.  While many of the traditional grape varieties are the same as in the Languedoc – Syrah, Grenache, Mourvede, Carignan and Cinsault, in the Roussillon Grenache dominates red and rosé wines and is the only grape authorized for late harvest vins doux natural.

For many years, the Roussillon was best known for these sweet wines which have fallen somewhat out of fashion over the years.  Today many young winemakers have bought inexpensive land and are making dry wines.  With an average of 365 sunny days a year and dry conditions, organic viticulture is very manageable here.  Understandably, there’s a lot of buzz about the Roussillon with Jancis Robinson stating that it’s, “home to some of France’s most exciting red and whites”.