Despite the periodic declarations that the Languedoc is on the cusp of becoming the “next big thing,” it has remained largely an afterthought in the minds of retailers and restaurateurs and fairly unknown by consumers. \n\nWhat keeps bringing us back to the Languedoc is quite simple – terroir. While the region’s tendency over the last few decades has been to over-emphasize grape variety or fixate on the latest in modern winemaking, there are a few estates dedicated to a more nuanced approach where soil and site are respected and nurtured. One such estate is Domaine de Courbissac.\n\nReinhard Brundig, a successful film producer from Germany, founded Domaine de Courbissac in 2002. What drew him to this property located in the La Liviniere sub-zone of Minervois was three-fold: established and well-tended vines, the complexity of the soils, and the proximity to La Montagne Noire. At the heart of Domaine de Courbissac are 90-year-old Grenache, 70-year-old Carignan, and 70-year-old Cinsault, as well as some solidly middle-aged Syrah and Mourvedre around 40 years-old. Farmed biodynamically since 2002\n\nAs the name suggests, L’Orange is not the typical Mediterranean white but copper-colored wine made from a blend of about 70% Marsanne, 15% Muscat, and the remainder Carignan Blanc, Terret, and Grenache Gris, and some other unidentified white varieties. These varieties are co-planted in limestone-rich soils alongside some Grenache and Carignan in typical Mediterranean fashion. L’Orange is fermented in tank,
