La Livinière domaine making Minervois reds and a Grenache Gris and Macabeu white through natural agriculture.
The producer
Domaine l'Oustal Blanc is based in La Livinière in the Minervois appellation of Languedoc. Isabel Cardoso-Fonquerle and Claude Fonquerle founded the domaine in 2002 and work eight hectares planted to Carignan, Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Macabeu and Syrah. Natural agriculture has been practiced since the founding, with grass covered soils, no herbicides and minimized copper treatments. Prima Donna is the flagship AOC Minervois La Livinière Rouge, while Naïck Blanc, Giocoso and Cuvée K widen the range across white and red wines.
Known for
Natural agriculture in La Livinière
Notable facts
Founded in 2002 by Isabel Cardoso-Fonquerle and Claude Fonquerle.
Located in La Livinière in the Minervois appellation of Languedoc.
Operates eight hectares of vineyard.
Prima Donna is a 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah AOC Minervois La Livinière Rouge.
The story
Isabel's Journey To La Livinière
Isabel was born in Guinea-Bissau to a Guinean mother and a Cape Verdean father. She arrived in France with her mother and lived in Paris. She later created a winery with Claude Fonquerle in La Livinière. Founded in 2002, the domaine began with natural agriculture and now works with red and white Languedoc grape varieties, including Carignan, Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Macabeu and Syrah. Prima Donna, the flagship red, carries the AOC Minervois La Livinière Rouge designation.
From the atlas
Domaine l'Oustal Blanc
Domaine l'Oustal Blanc in La Livinière farms native Languedoc grape varieties through natural agriculture, with Prima Donna as its flagship red.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Languedoc, France
Appellation
Minervois, with Prima Donna under Minervois La Livinière Rouge
Village
La Livinière
Signature wine
Prima Donna
Defining feature
Natural agriculture
The Producer
Eight hectares of vines support Domaine l'Oustal Blanc. The vineyard includes Carignan, Grenache Gris and Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Macabeu and Syrah, all identified as native Languedoc varieties. Prima Donna is the flagship wine, an AOC Minervois La Livinière Rouge blend.
Place
At La Livinière, Domaine l'Oustal Blanc is in the Minervois appellation of Languedoc. The place name appears in the flagship wine's AOC designation, Minervois La Livinière Rouge. The label joins a village name to the wider Minervois appellation, giving Prima Donna a geographic designation more specific than Minervois alone.
Story
Isabel Cardoso-Fonquerle created the winery with Claude Fonquerle in 2002. Claude had trained in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and then worked as a winemaker in the Côtes-du-Ventoux. Natural agriculture began with the domaine and continues as its farming approach. The partnership and the farming method arrived together at the foundation of the winery.
Vineyards And Cellar
Grass covers the vineyard soils throughout the year, storing carbon and helping the ground retain water, organic matter and mineral elements needed for vine growth. The domaine uses no herbicides and minimizes copper treatments.
Prima Donna undergoes 24 months of ageing. Grenache is aged in demi muid, a large oak vessel with a gentler wood influence than a standard barrel. Syrah is aged in 228 litre barrels that are three years old, where previous use contributes less new oak flavour. The two grape varieties are aged separately.
Wines
The named cuvées divide the range across flagship, white, blended red and varietal red roles. Prima Donna holds the flagship role. Naïck Blanc is 95% Grenache Gris and 5% Macabeu. Giocoso is 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan, with a ruby garnet color that develops with aging. Cuvée K is a 100% Carignan red.
In The Glass
Prima Donna opens with black berries, undergrowth and smoke. Its palate is full bodied and well balanced, with generosity offset by attractive vivacity. Naïck Blanc brings complex floral and almond notes.
Cuvée K has red and black fruit aromas over a smooth palate. Its Carignan tannins are present when uncorked, then remain silky and become rounder as the wine airs. Giocoso has a velvety texture.
A Bottle To Understand It
Prima Donna is the bottle to open first. It is the flagship AOC Minervois La Livinière Rouge, made from 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah at a yield of 25 hl per hectare. The appellation names La Livinière, the blend states how Grenache and Syrah are divided, and the yield marks the wine as a very low yield cuvée.
Anecdote
Isabel was born in Guinea-Bissau to a Guinean mother and a Cape Verdean father. She arrived in France with her mother and lived in Paris. She later created a winery with Claude Fonquerle in La Livinière. The winery she created is now Domaine l'Oustal Blanc in La Livinière.
Final Word
Sulfite levels at Domaine l'Oustal Blanc are kept 75% below permitted maximums.