2024 Château Massiac Viognier Pays d'Oc

100% organic Viognier. Fermentation and aging take place in stainless steel tanks, with the wine resting on its fine lees and receiving gentle batonnage. 13% alcohol. 

 This is an excellent, old school representation of the Viognier grape, with gorgeous aromatics of lychee and peach but remaining very dry and refreshing on the palate. Surprisingly fresh acidity keeps the wine feeling slightly tangy underneath the round, geneerous body. 

The Château Massiac has a long history that dates back to the Roman Empire when this area was colonized by the Romans using the nearby Mediterranean port (30 kilometers) of Narbonne as an access point. In the 17th Century, two brothers from Massiac in the Auvergne region traversed the area in service to the King of Spain and eventually settled at this spot situated almost precisely halfway between the clock towers of the villages of Azille and Rieux Minervois. During the French Revolution, the “chateau” was burned to the ground.

Bernard Boudouresques and his family have recently revived the domaine, planting vineyards and converting the estate to organic viticulture. Production from the estate is now certified organic. Massiac encompasses 21.5 hectares of vineyards, 8.5 of which produce the Minervois Rouge and 5 of which are the source for the two white wines classified as Vin de Pays d’Oc. The domaine lies at the extreme south of the Massif Centrale, in the gently sloping foothills that lead to the nearby Mediterranean coast.