Mas Roc de Bô

Anecdotes from the estate: Stéphanie's involvement in winemaking stems from her family, from her father, who instilled in her a love of it. She says, "I don't think I'm passionate; I'm more down-to-earth. I don't have a guru. But I think we are all obligated to consider our land and respect what it offers us. My guru is 'Life,' so I'm drawn to all those who seek to improve, protect, and save our lives on Earth." The estate's history: Gontran Dondain purchased this property in 2003, while already managing Château Cabezac. The estate's 35 hectares are located on one of the finest terroirs of the appellation, Cazelles. In 2011, Gontran acquired the essential setting for crafting the great wines of Cazelles: the Cave d'Agel, built in 1936 and situated below the vineyards. After a year of renovations, the winery reopened for the 2015 harvest, equipped with everything needed for single-vineyard vinification. To nurture this almost raw gem day after day, what could be more logical than the hands of a woman, Stéphanie Dondain, Gontran's daughter, who already works at the family estate? It was therefore quite natural that she was entrusted with the management of Mas Roc de Bô starting with the 2015 harvest, at the time of the winery's opening. She envisions this management role as a family, with the support of the Château Cabezac team. Since 2014, the Minervois Cru Syndicate has been working with the INAO (National Institute of Origin and Quality) to have the Cazelles terroir recognized as a Cru of the Languedoc. The Cazelles Cru would then become the second Cru of Minervois, alongside La Livinière. The pride of the Le Mas Roc de Bô estate was established in 2013, born from the ambition to offer a collection of unique wines, nestled in a setting entirely dedicated to the exceptional terroir from which they originate. The steady wind, particularly the Tramontane, reveals the full typicity of the terroir. It offers breathtaking views of the Pyrenees. As nature would have it, the Cazelles terroir is covered with white stones that accumulate heat during the day and release it to the vines at night. The altitude results in a late ripening of the grapes, giving the white wines greater freshness and aromatic intensity, despite a very dry Mediterranean climate. With its lunar appearance, the very structure of the soil sets it apart from the surrounding terroirs. Ancient and primarily composed of limestone fractured over time, it is interspersed with thin layers of red clay and even humus, which allow for excellent water regulation for the vines. The terroir of Cazelles is more easily described as "ant" than cicada, as the vine takes root to find the water and trace elements necessary for its development.