Domaine de Bon Augure Aux Innocents Les Mains Pleines 2024

Pronounced nose of gooseberries, clementines, kumquat and quince. Fantastic texture, complex palate with tobacco leaf and spice on the finish. Beautiful.

Country: France Region: Languedoc-Roussillion Grapes: Pinot Gris, Grenache Gris and Sauvignon Gris,

ABV: 13% Bottle Size: 750ml 

From the borders of Hérault and Aveyron at 600m altitude from the old Benedictine monastery of Joncels heralds this really quite wonderful drop (described by Jancis Robinson as 'stunningly vibrant').

By the end of the 14th century the bishop of Béziers had been ordered to ‘restore monastic discipline and address lax practices among the monks’. The Abbey of rather undisciplined monks was wound down and sold off during the French Revolution and the vineyards were abandoned.

Started in 2013 on the same site,  Domaine de Bon Augure now has nearly nine hectares of vines, planted on steep hillsides by a farmer from the village of Joncels in the early 1990s. Six are Chardonnay, one Petit Manseng and one Pinot Noir, to which are added a few rows of Grenache Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Petite Arvine.

One-third each Pinot Gris, Grenache Gris and Sauvignon Gris. Hand-picked. Long spontaneous fermentation including one week of skin maceration. 2,500 bottles made. Certified organic