Mas des Chimères - Caminarem 2023
There are wines that tell as much a family story as a terroir story. In Octon, on the heights of Lake Salagou, Caminarem has embodied for nearly twenty years Guilhem Dardé's desire to restore the nobility of the traditional Languedoc grape varieties. Founder of Mas des Chimères in 1993, this winemaker deeply attached to his land has built, with his wife Palma and their daughter Maguelone, an estate whose wines stand out for their character and remarkable frankness of expression. The surrounding landscape, shaped by ancient volcanic flows and the spectacular red Permian ruffes, offers a rare geological diversity, complemented by the refreshing influence of the Larzac reliefs. It is on the basaltic plateaus that Caminarem is born, a cuvée whose Occitan name evokes the idea of continuing one's path, faithful to its convictions. Through it, the Dardé family claims a viticulture respectful of the soils and a conception of wine where old Mediterranean grape varieties regain their full importance. More structured and ambitious than Nuit Grave, Caminarem constitutes one of the most accomplished expressions of the Mas des Chimères' viticultural heritage.
The originality of Caminarem 2023 lies in an equal blend of five emblematic grape varieties of the Midi: Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah, each representing 20% of the cuvée. This unusual composition gives an essential place to Cinsault and Carignan, often relegated to the background in contemporary Languedoc blends. The grapes come from plots cultivated on basaltic plateaus, where some vines are nearly ninety years old, with naturally limited yields. Cinsault brings finesse and aromatic brightness, Carignan its liveliness and depth, while Mourvèdre builds the tannic framework and Grenache enriches the texture with its generosity. Syrah completes the ensemble with floral notes, spices, and structure, giving the wine a remarkable diversity of expression. After manual harvesting, the grapes are destemmed and the different varieties blended as soon as their maturity allows, before fermentation with indigenous yeasts and deliberately gentle extractions. The aging of about twelve months, partly carried out in 400 and 600-liter oak containers, supports the harmonization of this blend without erasing the personality of the grape varieties nor the imprint of the volcanic terroir.
Caminarem 2023 reveals a deep garnet robe with purple reflections, whose intensity announces a generous and structured matter. The bouquet opens with aromas of wild blackberry, black cherry, and ripe plum, quickly joined by notes of thyme, bay leaf, licorice, and black pepper. Upon aeration, nuances of cocoa, warm stone, and dried garrigue enrich this Mediterranean palette, without ever masking the freshness of the fruit. The palate has a confirmed density, with fleshy matter and present but ripe tannins, whose slightly tight grain provides a particularly interesting structure for aging. The balance rests on a tension that runs through the wine and prevents any heaviness, while the long and savory finish retains a spicy imprint and subtle bitterness. This Terrasses du Larzac will accompany a garlic confit lamb shoulder, roasted pigeon with herbs, a matured rib of beef, or a wild boar stew, all preparations capable of matching its depth without overwhelming its aromatic nuances. Still young, it will benefit from decanting before serving and can continue its evolution for about ten years, gradually developing notes of leather, undergrowth, and spices while retaining the warm personality of its origins.
Grape varieties: 20% Cinsault, 20% Carignan, 20% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 20% Syrah
