DOMAINE BENJAMIN TAILLANDIER

Upon the culmination of his oenological education, Benjamin Taillandier initially embarked on a sojourn of employment with a run-of-the-mill winery. However, it was in the year 2004 when he crossed paths with Jean Baptiste Senat that the trajectory of his viticultural philosophy underwent a seismic shift. Under the tutelage of Senat, Taillandier was exposed to a revelatory approach to winemaking and subsequently, he became his protégé, resolved to emulate his methods.

In 2007, at the precocious age of 27, he founded his own domaine, procuring 6 hectares of vineyards in the environs of Caunes-Minervois, within the Languedoc region. He exclusively cultivates indigenous Languedoc varietals such as Terret Gris, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah.

From the inception of his venture, he has been an advocate of organic and biodynamic farming methods, and has been certified organic since 2011. His holdings have since expanded to encompass approximately 20 hectares of vineyards, situated between Carcassonne and the Montagne Noir, at elevations ranging from 250-400 meters. The vines, primarily trained in the gobelet method and ranging in age from 30-50 years, flourish in the Mediterranean clime. The terroir is primarily composed of clay limestone, with occasional outcroppings of schist and sand.

In contradistinction to his contemporaries, who often produce wines that are overly alcoholic and concentrated, Taillandier's objective is to craft vintages that are replete with flavor yet are lighter, fresher, and lower in alcohol content, thus elevating the prestige of the Minervois region.