Terrasses du Larzac: The untamed freshness of the high Languedoc

The mountainous area of the Massif Central occupies about a sixth of France, bordering Beaujolais and the Rhône to the east and Languedoc to the south. The massif’s southern section consists of a number of limestone plateaus – called causses in the Occitan language, from the Latin calx, meaning ‘lime’.

It’s this landscape, with its stalactite-littered caverns and dramatically deep gorges, that gives rise to one of France’s most famous cheeses: Roquefort (also the first product of any kind in France to be granted ‘appellation d’origine’ status under the then-new law of 1925).

It’s also one of these arid, sparsely populated limestone plateaus, the Causse du Larzac, that defines a spectacular wine terroir: the Terrasses du Larzac.

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Ten years since itself becoming an independent AP (appellation d’origine protégée, as the designation has been known since early 2016), Terrasses du Larzac has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting and dynamic areas in this vast region.

Identified as a denomination of the wider Languedoc in 2004, this is one of the rare regions that gained its appellation status quickly; usually the process takes many years.

In Rosemary George MW’s 2001 book The Wines of the South of France, Terrasses du Larzac hardly gets a look in. ‘I gave it little more than a cursory mention,’ she acknowledges in her 2018 book Wines of the Languedoc, yet it ‘has attracted enormous interest over the past 20 years’.

And for good reason.

Lay of the land

Up on the arid, exposed Larzac plateau, wind-battered grassland is interspersed with gnarled lumps of grey-white rock that resemble ancient ruins. This Jurassic landscape – 145 million-200 million years old – has a long history of supporting the Lacaune sheep that provide the milk used in Roquefort production, an activity in which a number of wine estates were also historically involved.

The wheels of this veiny blue cheese that age in the caves under the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, at the western edge of the Causse du Larzac, benefit from similar natural phenomena as the vineyard area below.

The caves feature cracks and fissures (called fleurines) that allow cool winds from high up on the plateau to blow down through the mountain itself, creating the perfect conditions for ageing the cheese.

These same winds blow off the top of the plateau into the foothills where the Terrasses du Larzac vineyards lie, one element in a terroir that’s ideal for producing wines with an inherent freshness.

‘We’re an appellation with Languedoc generosity but Larzac freshness,’ says Jean-Baptiste Granier, owner and winemaker of Les Vignes Oubliées.

The region’s climate, which is heavily influenced by the proximity of the Larzac plateau, is a unifying factor in an appellation with a huge diversity of soils, exposures and elevations.

This is one of the most northerly vineyard areas of Languedoc, scattered across 32 villages and communes that hug the foothills of the causse and fan out along the geological terraces that stretch to the confluence of the Hérault and Lergue rivers at Canet, forming a rough ‘V’ shape.

Vines are planted between 40 metres and 450m. Hillsides and valleys cut like notches into the landscape, creating a wealth of different exposures.

This, combined with the northerly latitude and more inland location, means that there’s a significant diurnal temperature range, ‘at least 20°C difference between night and day in the summer months’, says Loïc Benezeth, fourth-generation winemaker at Domaine La Rouquette.

This helps to preserve freshness and acidity, but also provides a ‘bigger aromatic revelation’, says Vincent Goumard, owner and winemaker of Mas Cal Demoura.

The Terrasses terroir: a patchwork of soils

The vineyard area is a complex array of geological eras – a fascinating mix of colour, shape and texture, a Kandinsky painting splashed out across the terrain. As soil types meander through alkaline limestone to more acidic sandstone and schist, the wild Mediterranean vegetation that surrounds the vineyards changes – a shifting, contrasting, metamorphosing landscape.

The thyme, juniper, bay and holm oak of the limestone-based garrigue transforms into the heather, mint, white oak and lavender of the sandstone-based maquis. Although communication around individual terroirs is at a nascent stage, a few specific areas are worth pointing out…

Cercle de la Blaquière

An enclave to the west of Mont St-Baudille, at 300m, from St-Privat down to St-Jean-dela-Blaquière. It’s mainly grès (sandstone) and schist – although not the same schist found in the Faugères appellation further southwest. The combination of schist and cool night-time temperatures brings elegance and silky tannins.

Escalette

The upper valley of the Lergue river, at 350m-400m, with rocky limestone soils and a very cool climate. Some vineyards are on terraces, and there are clapas – piles of stones – that surround the vineyards.

‘Women removed these large stones from the vineyards so that men could work the land,’ says Delphine Zernott of Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette, ‘but they also act as barriers, protecting vines from strong winds.’

This is a particularly fresh terroir, ‘really white wine country’, according to Decanter contributing editor Andrew Jefford. Reds have fresh acidity, a lighter body and a saline, mineral character.

Salagou and ruffes

In the west around the manmade Salagou lake, with a few outcrops in the southern part of St-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, striking red soils resemble the Australian outback. These ruffes (from the Latin rufus/Occitan ruffus, meaning ‘red’), were formed during the Permian period some 275m years ago.

According to author and geologist Luc David, these are alluvial terraces, with silty iron-oxide-rich soils. There’s also basalt from ancient volcanic eruptions.

Aniane and Puéchabon

To the east of the Hérault river, a few top-quality estates have made their mark, notably Mas de Daumas Gassac and Domaine de la Grange des Pères, although neither labels its wines as Terrasses du Larzac. Hilly vineyards with stony limestone soils and galets roulés (large, rounded stones) make for a lunar landscape.

The heart: Jonquières and surrounds

The lower-lying ancient terraces of the Lergue river. The soil is varied but there’s more clay here, with limestone pebbles as well as galets roulés. This part also includes Montpeyroux and St-Saturnin, historic denominations under the Languedoc appellation, both of which hope to gain individual AP status. The wines are denser and more structured.

The Buèges valley

Extending far up the right-hand branch of the Terrasses du Larzac ‘V’. This follows the Cévennes fault line, with glacial deposits of fractured limestone.

Grapes & styles

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan are the key varieties in this red-only appellation, with Cinsault, Counoise, Lledoner Pelut, Morrastel and Terret Noir as secondaries. A blend of at least three varieties is required.

As in other Languedoc regions, a renewed appreciation of once-maligned Carignan is helping to save old vines and bring fresh acidity to blends. Syrah, on the other hand, is suffering across Languedoc due to its sensitivity to drought, but here it’s less aggrieved, thanks to the fresh climate.

Even so, Amélie d’Hurlaborde of Mas d’Amile says that the climate keeps reminding them to look after the indigenous varieties that have better resistance to drought, like Carignan.

Cinsault plays an increasingly important role here, lending blends an ethereal, floral, juicy quality. I also love pure Cinsault – of course it’s not permitted under the appellation rules, but a few producers bottle one as Vin de France or IGP, so it warrants a mention here.

Try examples from Mas Combarèla, Le Clos Rivieral, Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette, Le Clos Rouge (Piccolo 2021, £22.49 The Wine Reserve) and Mas Conscience (Cieux 2021, £18 Dead Time).

Although it’s hard to generalise about the style of a large region with such variable geology, there are four striking things about the wines: their freshness, drinkability, aromatic display and tannic finesse.

Generous, dark brambly fruit is often tempered and lifted by red fruit undertones. Notes of garrigue – sage, thyme, juniper – are infused into the very core of the wines’ being. Many are moreish, delectable and succulent, boasting suave tannins with the texture of fine, wet clay.

Some are also elevated by a stony, iodine, mineral quality. It’s when these elements come together that the vigneron has succeeded in sharing their place with the drinker.

Although not currently permitted under the appellation rules, white wines are making promising strides and an official request for their inclusion is being assessed as I write.

The main varieties would be Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Rolle, Carignan Blanc and Chenin Blanc. Many of the whites currently made under the local IGPs are delicious, so this is definitely an area to watch.

Overall, despite the quality coming out of the region, the Terrasses du Larzac wines still appear fairly difficult to sell abroad. ‘It is the name of the estate that sells the wine,’ says Marcel Orford-Williams, wine buyer at UK retailer The Wine Society and DWWA judge for Languedoc-Roussillon.

Indeed the wide variety of terroirs and potential styles makes it difficult to define a singular identity for the region – but arguably this is also the region’s strength.

The place to be

The Terrasses du Larzac region is incredibly dynamic, having a combination of long-standing, native producers (such as Mas Jullien, Mas des Chimères and Domaine de Montcalmès, which all helped to create the reputation of the appellation) and a steady stream of newcomers who have arrived in a relatively short space of time (40 new wine-growers since 2014).

Some big names, including the likes of Gérard Bertrand, Calmel & Joseph and Vignobles Jeanjean, even have properties here.

‘With this mix, it could have been two worlds that coexisted but didn’t acknowledge each other, but that’s not at all what happened,’ says Sébastien Fillon, president of the appellation and winemaker at Le Clos du Serres. ‘They interacted and exchanged and discussed, and the people from outside were accepted, so it worked.’

One senses the cohesion and partnership among the producers.

‘Everyone helps each other. We’re friends – there’s no competition,’ says Benezeth, who took over the family domaine in 2021 at the age of 26.

‘When you’re young and recently installed in the region, it’s important to have the big names on your side.’

What’s more, about 80% of producers are organic and many are biodynamic, too (and the proportion rises to 92% if HVE and Terra Vitis certification are taken into account), which highlights a certain like-mindedness among them, and also ‘allows for large areas in which biodiversity can thrive and a natural balance can be achieved’, according to Goumard.

The wines, with their fluidity and delicate structures, could strike a chord with new drinkers discovering wine for the first time, as well as seasoned wine lovers looking for wines with a southern soul but also balance and finesse.

In the mighty tome that is the Languedoc, Terrasses du Larzac might be the most compelling chapter.

Terrasses du Larzac: the facts

Producers: 96 independents, 3 cooperatives; 4 négociants

Area planted: 747ha (AP)

Production (2023): 2.7m bottles

Average yield (2023): 27.1hl/ha

Grapes: Principal Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan; Secondary Cinsault, Counoise, Lledoner Pelut, Morrastel, Terret Noir

Blends: At least three varieties, of which two must be principal varieties; principal varieties at least 75% of the blend; no single variety more than 70% of the blend; Carignan maximum 50%, Cinsault maximum 25%; secondary varieties (other than Cinsault) max 10%

Organic producers (2023): 79% certified or under conversion (92% if including HVE or Terra Vitis certification)

[Source: AP Terrasses du Larzac]

Producers to know in Terrasses du Larzac

Clos Constantin

Domaine de Montcalmès

Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette

Les Vignes Oubliées

Mas Cal Demoura

Mas d’Amile

Mas des Brousses

Mas Combarèla

Mas Conscience

Mas Jullien

New & noteworthy:

Domaine de l’Accent

Domaine Flo Busch

Les 8 Sarments

Le Clos des Combals

Mas Lasta

Mas Origine

Languedoc charm: 10 wines from Terrasses du Larzac

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