Domaine La Casenove – Mastered Mediterranean Density

Located in Trouillas, at the foot of the Pyrenean foothills in the Aspres, Domaine La Casenove stands out with its ancient history and a distinct wine style, rooted in the purest expression of Roussillon. A family-owned property for several centuries, the estate now covers about fifty hectares, spread over stony, arid soils, bathed in light and swept by the tramontane. It is here that Étienne Montès, a photographer by training turned winemaker, has crafted a strong identity, going against the trends.

The estate is based on a mosaic of dry, stony, and poor terroirs, perfect for low-yield Mediterranean grape varieties such as Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Some vines are over seventy years old, deeply rooted in hard soils, witnesses to a rustic yet demanding viticulture. No irrigation. The hot and windy climate pushes the grapes towards full maturity, without excess, thanks to rigorous vine management.

The harvest is manual, conducted plot by plot, with meticulous sorting in the vineyard. The winemaking follows a low-intervention approach, favoring long fermentations, without the addition of yeasts or sulfites during fermentation. Extractions are controlled, macerations can last several weeks, and aging is done in concrete or stainless steel tanks, sometimes in old barrels for certain more ambitious cuvées. Sulfur is used sparingly, always at the end of aging.

The style of the red wines is dense, racy, often structured but never heavy. La Casenove does not seek ease or immediate fruity brilliance: it aims for depth, texture, complexity. Carignan is treated with nobility, offering wines with notes of garrigue, black fruits, violet, and warm stone. Syrah adds verticality, tension, and a balsamic character. Grenache, more solar, tempers the whole with roundness and amplitude.

The whites, rarer, are made from Grenache Blanc and Macabeu, and show a surprising saline freshness, with subtle balances despite the warm climate. These are Mediterranean wines but contained, chiseled, tracing an original path within Roussillon.

Iconic Cuvées

La Garrigue – Carignan, Syrah, and Grenache. Nose of black pepper, incense, and ripe fruits. Firm structure, precise tannins, dry and mineral finish. Great aging potential.

La Colomina – More accessible cuvée, based on clayey terroirs. Blend of Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre. Round, juicy palate, refreshing acidity. Perfect from its youth.

Commandant François Jaubert – 100% Syrah. Parcel-based cuvée with an imposing style, long aging in barrels. Aromas of resin, black fruits, dried violet. Great aging wine.

Les Clares Petites – White of Grenache Blanc and Macabeu. Fine texture, notes of candied citrus, saline touch. Ideal with grilled fish or fresh cheeses.