Domaine de Courbissac - l'Orange 2022

Despite the periodic declarations that the Languedoc is on the cusp of becoming the “next big thing,” it has remained largely an afterthought in the minds of retailers and restaurateurs and fairly unknown by consumers. 

What keeps bringing us back to the Languedoc is quite simple – terroir. While the region’s tendency over the last few decades has been to over-emphasize grape variety or fixate on the latest in modern winemaking, there are a few estates dedicated to a more nuanced approach where soil and site are respected and nurtured. One such estate is Domaine de Courbissac.

Reinhard Brundig, a successful film producer from Germany, founded Domaine de Courbissac in 2002. What drew him to this property located in the La Livinière sub-zone of Minervois was three-fold: established and well-tended vines, the complexity of the soils, and the proximity to La Montagne Noire. At the heart of Domaine de Courbissac are 90-year-old Grenache, 70-year-old Carignan, and 70-year-old Cinsault, as well as some solidly middle-aged Syrah and Mourvedre around 40 years-old. Farmed biodynamically since 2002

In 2013, he sought to renew his style, he wanted fresher, more elegant wines, and it was in November 2013 that he met Brunnhilde Claux. Brunnhilde Claux has returned from Priorat, Spain. No vines, but an insatiable desire to serve a terroir, to accompany a winemaking process. At 30, Brunnhilde took over the technical side of the estate, implementing a gentle, whole-cluster winemaking process. The winemaking is more restrained, the wines are becoming more supple, a new chapter is being written for Courbissac. And Courbissac reveals itself. The wines relax, freshness prevails, a turning point begins in Courbissac.

As the name suggests, L’Orange is not the typical Mediterranean white but copper-colored wine made from a blend of about 70% Marsanne, 15% Muscat, and the remainder Carignan Blanc, Terret, and Grenache Gris, and some other unidentified white varieties. These varieties are co-planted in limestone-rich soils alongside some Grenache and Carignan in typical Mediterranean fashion. L’Orange is fermented in tank, whole cluster, and pressed after 9-12 days of skin contact.

Aged for 6 months in concrete eggs, bottled unfined.

L’Orange Courbissac, orange wine, organic wine, natural wine, subtle, grapey, very fresh, uplifting, delicious entry point to orange wine. The charm of this orange wine made in minuscule quantity in the Languedoc is in the natural, light grapeyness. This comes largely from the Muscat in the wine. It has fresh and floral aromas which balance perfectly the more savoury elements of orange wine. L’Orange Courbissac is a perfect summer wine, with olives or light salads, some smoked fish or even a few red grapes and cheese.

Producer: Domaine de Courbissac

Country: France

Region: Languedoc-Roussillon

Varietal: Muscat Blanc, Marsanne, Grenache Gris, Carignan Blanc, Terret

Appellation: Vin de France

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml