Château des Estanilles is an organic estate in Autignac in the Languedoc region of France. It produces wines under the Languedoc AOC and the Faugères AOC. Château des Estanilles was founded by Michel Louison in 1976 and sold by him in 2009 (Michel Louison is now owner of Château Lamartine, which see). The buyer of Estanilles was Julien Seydoux, whose father Michel is a successful business man, cinema producer and president of Lille football club. Julien Seydoux studied in the US and worked on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Vineyards: Faugères. 35 hectares. Schist soil. Steep hillsides overlooking the village of Lenthéric. Château des Estanilles founder Michel Louison pioneered high-density planting. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault.

Organic certification: 2010 First vintage with full orgnic certification.

White wines

Vallongue Blanc: This was called L’Impertinent Blanc under the previous owner: 40% Marsanne, 35% Roussanne, 20% Viognier.

Sous les Rocs Blanc: This was called Inverso white under the previous owner: Marsanne, Roussanne. From the le Roques vineyard.

Blanc, Inverso: 2012 Fermented in demi-muids. No MLF. 13% Creamy and polished (Millésime Bio 2014).

Rosé wines

Vallongue Rosé: This was called L’Impertinent Rosé under the previous owner: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah.

Red wines

Sous les Rocs Rouge: This was called Inverso Rouge under the previous owner: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah.

Vallongue Rouge: This was called L’Impertinent Rouge under the previous owner: 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre.

Fontanille Rouge: This was called Raison d’Être under the previous owner: 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir .

Château des Estanilles Rouge, Le Clos du Fou: The flagship wine. Mainly Syrah on schistous slopes at 300 metres. The name refers to the steepness of the site and the saying that ‘if even the mules cannot climb it, what chance the vines can hang on’. | 2012 Ripe, polished dark fruit, a bit simple (Millésime Bio 2014).

Contact

Château des Estanilles, F-34480 Lentheric (Hérault), France

Tel+33 (0)4.67.90.29.25