Mas Jullien Terrasses du Larzac 'Carlan' 2014

Legend has it that Olivier Jullien’s friend, Carlan, was walking in the forest, looking for a scenic spot to practice his guitar, when he came across a vineyard in disrepair. He reported his findings to Olivier, who purchased and restored the vineyard. (This was in the early-mid 2000s; our first vintage of the wine was 2009.) Unlike the rest of Olivier’s holdings, which are planted on predominantly limestone soil, “Carlan” features schist, sandstone, and iron, and is planted at 240 meters above sea level. The majority of the vines are 75 years old, with some “younger” vines at around 45 years of age. The blend is 60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 10% the other varieties that make up Olivier Jullien’s red cuvées. The combination of terroir and cépage give this wine a more fruit-forward profile than Mas Jullien’s signature red, as well as his “L’États d’ me bottling, which both come from poor limestone soils and feature less Grenache (if any). Though “Carlan” is made using the same traditional, unhurried methods, it shows a softness of structure that make a nice contrast to the limestone spines of the other two wines. Organic and Biodynamic.