Mas Janeil

On the estate, we apply a semi-organic farming method called Biodynamics. Fertilizers are organic (compost) and we cross-plough to avoid grass (no herbicides). Yields are so low that we cannot accept competition from weeds, and the winegrower pushes for the development of hedges between each plot to block a little the wind (tramontane) which often sweeps us. But also to maintain the fauna and flora (especially the aromatic species, rosemary, thyme, laurel ...) that participate in the life of the vine. On the highest parcel of the estate, the wind is so strong that the vines have remained small as "Bonsaïs"! The vinification of the grapes from these parcels is done separately. This is the "Pas de la Mule" (so called because it was a mule's passage in the cliff to go to Cucugnan).

Our story

Initially a tenant for 10 years, François buys back the best plots of land of the estate when the previous owner retired. A total of 30 hectares, as well as 60 hectares of uncultivated moorland that keep our friends the wild boars! Mas Janeil is a whole! We also keep access to the estate's springs, which later allowed us to put irrigation in place on the driest plots. For a Bordeaux resident who is well used to high vine density and profitable yields, this was a shock. It was necessary for the winegrower to review several of his ways of thinking both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Fortunately, François has been working in other terroirs and comes to the estate with a very open mind, which is why he is building a brand new winery to be able to apply a personal working method, very much inspired by tradition of course, but also with things like cold maceration in whole bunches, which he is apparently the only user in this region.