Domaine la Sarabande — Faugeres, Languedoc

Sarabande is small. Not small-for-a-French-estate small – actually small. Les Espinasses, their Icon Series Syrah, is a single barrel. One.

The domaine works in Faugeres, on schist soils in the hills above Beziers, certified organic, with spontaneous fermentations in open-top vats. Bousigue and Les Espinasses are only made in the best years.

What we like about Sarabande is that you can taste the decisions. Les Rabasses is 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache Noir from 35-year-old vines. The Red Swine is 65% Syrah and 35% Mourvedre, aged in stainless steel rather than oak, because they wanted the fruit to stay forward. Orange Swine is Marsanne and Roussanne, half and half, macerated on the skins.

Nine wines, from a producer most of Ireland has never heard of.

Grapes Grown