Producer

Marilyn Lasserre

Marilyn is a genuine pioneer. Since her return to France in 2008, she has significantly contributed to the renewed success of Languedoc’s wines. Bringing her feminine touch to traditionally strong, rustic and full-bodied wines, Marilyn succeeded in improving quality and taste with a rigorous selection in the vineyards and perfect control of the winemaking process. Marilyn studied Viticulture and Oenology in Bordeaux, and has spent time working in various regions throughout the world. Les Argelières is a tribute to the “Terroir” from which these wines are produced, a terroir mostly made of pebble and limestone perfectly exposed to the sun. It enhances the fruit aromas as well as the mineral style of the white wines, whilst giving the reds a vibrant fruit character. The Pays d’Oc has a history of over 2600 years of vine-growing and winemaking. Over the centuries, the wine trade became more and more structured and grew rapidly. The region greatly benefits from the Mediterranean climate, bringing warm mist, and the Black Mountain which offers limestone and clay “terroirs” with cool temperatures.

Vinification

Once the grapes have been harvested, stems are completely removed. At which point a portion of the crop undergoes a hot maceration for ten hours extracting colour, tannins and fruity aromas. This is followed by gentle pressing to liberate the juice, which then undergoes traditional fermentation. The other portion follows a traditional winemaking process. 50% of the wine is aged using French oak for five months. The wines are then blended before being bottled.

Press Comments

Wine Merchant Top 100 2023, Highly Commended. Brian Elliott, Midweek Wines October 2022: “Back in the day, carignan (like monastrell, originally Spanish) was the “go-to” grape for bulk wine from southern France. With old vines and low yields, however, it can produce delightfully soft and flavoursome red wine, like this, without losing its regional identity. Nutty with liquorice influences, this example has smooth raspberry and prune elements wit aniseed within an otherwise savoury finish.”

Tasting Notes