Carignan harvest

Harvesting for our Carignan took place on a glorious sunny Sunday and it was very much a family affair. A big thank you to all our pickers and helpers, young and old!  

2013 Syrah harvest

Photos of Syrah harvest We picked our Syrah yesterday, over three weeks later than last year. The grapes were luscious and sweet and the juice was incredibly deep coloured. Here are some photos from the harvest.  

When are grapes ripe?

  How do you know when grapes are ripe? A couple of days ago, I was taking a group of American tourists round the beautiful cellars of Château St Jacques d’Albas in the Minervois when I was asked the seemingly simple question ‘how do you know when the...

September

Waiting game This is the latest harvest for 30 years … Usually at this time of year, the roads are sticky with grape juice and grape harvesters are a familiar sight in the vineyards. 10 minutes are added onto every journey as you get stuck behind a tractor...

Domaine Lou Cayla, IGP Aude, 2012

Domaine Lou Cayla, IGP Aude, 2012 65% Syrah, 35% Carignan 14% Background Domaine Lou Cayla is a tiny, family-run vineyard near the historic Minervois village of Mailhac. Juliet Bruce Jones, a British Master of Wine, and Simon Ingman tend 2 hectares of Syrah and...