At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Producer
- Château Bas d'Aumelas
- Place
- Aumelas, Languedoc
- Site
- Causse d'Aumelas plateau, Grès de Montpellier AOC
- Farming
- Ecocert certified organic since 2006
The Producer
Château Bas d'Aumelas is a family estate in Aumelas, centred on a château building that dates to the 14th century. The d'Albenas family acquired the property in the 18th century and has stewarded it continuously. Jean-Philippe and Geoffroy d'Albenas are the 12th generation.
Geoffroy left his work as a wine merchant at Caves Notre Dame in 2002 to join the family estate during its revival. Since then, the vineyard has been replanted across 22 hectares. The vines are worked by hand to avoid soil compaction.
Place
At 300 metres above sea level on the causse d'Aumelas plateau, the vineyard is the highest terroir in the Grès de Montpellier AOC. Grès de Montpellier names the appellation attached to this site. Clay and limestone make up the soil, contributing fine acidity to the wines.
Wines
The estate makes several wine styles and works with concrete vats, stainless steel, Stockinger cooperage and amphora. Château Bas d'Aumelas Rouge 2021 is a red wine from Languedoc. The cellar's minimal intervention philosophy uses simple, traditional methods with selective modernisation so the terroir can express itself. The clay limestone soil gives the wines fine acidity.
Final Word
A local shepherd brings a flock through the vineyard for eco grazing, and a local beekeeper has installed 200 beehives around it to support biodiversity.
Sources
1. https://www.chateaubasaumelas.fr/en/ 2. https://www.chateaubasaumelas.fr/en/the-estate/history.html 3. https://www.chateaubasaumelas.fr/fr/le-domaine/les-vignerons.html 4. https://www.chateaubasaumelas.fr/en/the-estate/terroir.html 5. https://www.chateaubasaumelas.fr/en/the-estate/la-cave.html