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Laurent Miquel

Eighth generation St Chinian domaine with rosé, red and white wines, and Laurent Miquel's Albariño planting in France after more than 400 years.

The producer

Laurent Miquel is an eighth generation winemaker from Château Cazal Viel in St Chinian. The family range covers rosé, red and white wines, including Cinsault, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Viognier. Laurent became the first French winemaker to plant Albariño in France in over 400 years. The wines carry Pays d'Oc and VdP d'Oc designations, pairing a long family connection with a wide range of named grape varieties.

Known for

Albariño in Languedoc

Notable facts

The story

Laurent Returns To Cazal Viel

Before returning to winemaking in 1996, Laurent pursued an engineering career and completed post graduate quality assurance studies at the University of Leeds. He returned to the family domaine at Château Cazal Viel and began working with his father Henri, known as “Monsieur Syrah.” Laurent brought technical expertise into the family business, joining the eighth generation of work at the domaine. The return placed an engineer in the cellar beside the father whose nickname came from his work with Syrah.

From the atlas

Laurent Miquel

An eighth generation family domaine at Château Cazal Viel in St Chinian, making rosé, red and white wines from a broad range of grape varieties.

At A Glance

HomeChâteau Cazal Viel in St Chinian
GenerationEighth generation winemaker
Main grapesCinsault, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier and Albariño
StylesRosé, red and white wines
Defining featureAlbariño planted in France after more than 400 years

The Producer

Laurent Miquel is an eighth generation winemaker from the family domaine at Château Cazal Viel in St Chinian. The range covers rosé, red and white wines, with bottles carrying Pays d'Oc and VdP d'Oc designations.

Cinsault and Syrah appear in the rosé wines. The reds include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, while the whites include Chardonnay and Viognier. Laurent Miquel also became the first French winemaker to plant Albariño in France in over 400 years. The estate's phrase is direct: “Old world wines for a new world.”

Place

St Chinian is the home of Château Cazal Viel. The range carries both Pays d'Oc and VdP d'Oc designations, geographic categories that appear directly on the labels of the wines.

This gives the portfolio several label addresses within the Languedoc. Rosé, red and white wines sit beside one another, with the grape variety often named clearly in the bottle title.

Story

In 2001, Laurent's Irish wife Neasa joined the operation as sales and marketing director. Their children Sean and Alaina established the ninth generation of the family winemaking legacy.

The family operation therefore includes both a working generation and the generation that followed it. Château Cazal Viel remains the named family domaine behind Laurent Miquel's wines.

Vineyards And Cellar

Solas Pinot Noir uses five to seven days of cold pre fermentation maceration before fermentation. This technique keeps the fruit in contact with the must at a low temperature, drawing out fresh aromas and flavours before alcohol develops.

Twenty percent of the wine ages in first and second use oak barrels for up to six months. Oak ageing can add spice and a broader texture to Pinot Noir.

Wines

The rosé range includes Alaina Rosé, Solas Rosé, Cinsault Syrah Rosé, Vendanges Nocturnes Rosé and Jeu Floral Rosé. Alaina Rosé has a light body and a quick finish, while Vendanges Nocturnes Rosé carries balanced acidity.

The red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, Syrah Grenache and Solas Pinot Noir. The whites include Côte 228 Pech Clamensou Chardonnay, Chardonnay Viognier, Solas Chardonnay and Père & Fils Chardonnay.

In The Glass

Solas Pinot Noir is bright and juicy, with red berry, strawberry, fresh mushroom and wild herb flavours, followed by a touch of spice. The palate stays lively as the fruit moves into a savoury finish.

Jeu Floral Rosé is pale pink, with delicate strawberry and watermelon, a creamy middle and a crisp citrus finish. Vendanges Nocturnes Rosé adds fresh berry fruit, light citrus and strawberry, with a salty seashell note alongside the acidity.

A Bottle To Understand It

Père & Fils Chardonnay 2021 is the bottle to begin with. It is a white Chardonnay with ripe, round fruit, creamy yellow and green apple, pear and light spices, followed by acidity.

The bottle places Chardonnay at the centre of the white range, alongside Chardonnay Viognier, Solas Chardonnay and Côte 228 Pech Clamensou Chardonnay. Its rounded fruit and acidic finish give the range a clear white wine reference.

Anecdote

Before returning to winemaking in 1996, Laurent pursued an engineering career and completed post graduate quality assurance studies at the University of Leeds. He then returned to the family domaine at Château Cazal Viel and began working with his father Henri, known as “Monsieur Syrah.” Laurent brought technical expertise into the family business, joining the eighth generation of work at the domaine. The return placed an engineer in the cellar beside the father whose nickname came from his work with Syrah.

Final Word

The vineyard lineage in this region reaches back to 1202, when the monks of Abbey de Fontcaude first began growing vines there.

Sources

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