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Château Sainte Eulalie
Château Sainte-Eulalie: Minervois La Livinière, Languedoc's first recognised cru, certified organic, old vines since 1910...
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Château Sainte-Eulalie - Minervois La Livinière, Languedoc
Nestled on the hillsides of La Livinière at 250 metres above sea level, bathed in southern sun and sheltered from the northern winds, Château Sainte-Eulalie has been cultivating an exceptional stony terroir since 1996, one without equal in the Minervois. Two oenologists, one vocation, and vines whose roots reach deep into limestone and manganese deposits laid down over a century ago.
Languedoc's first recognised cru, told by those who live it.
History and origins of the estate
The Château Sainte-Eulalie estate is what the Languedoc calls a campagne, an architectural whole that functions as a single unit: the manor house, the ramonétage (workers' lodgings), the winery, and everywhere around them, the vines. An estate established in the 19th century that has endured through time, preserving this coherence of place and spirit.
In February 1996, Isabelle and Laurent Coustal, two oenologists trained at the University of Toulouse, chose to write their own chapter here. They acquired the property and embarked on the adventure they have carried for nearly thirty years: elevating Château Sainte-Eulalie to the rank of Languedoc's great estates. Their daughter Marion has since joined them, continuing a rare three-generation transmission in the Languedoc vineyard.
A lasting environmental commitment
High Environmental Value certification awarded in April 2014. Organic farming certification achieved in 2023. Two milestones on the same path: keeping this limestone ecosystem intact, one no intensive cultivation has ever altered, and passing it on to future generations.
The terroir and its defining features
La Livinière is no ordinary wine village. Since 1999, it has been recognised as Languedoc's first official cru, an appellation within an appellation, nestled at the heart of the Minervois on the southern slopes of the Montagne Noire. Its very name derives from the Occitan Lavineira, meaning "a place planted with vines," documented as far back as 1069. A thousand years of viticulture under the same sun. The vineyard overlooks the Aude valley, the historic gateway between the Mediterranean and Atlantic worlds, within the Petit Causse terroir of the Minervois AOC.
The Château Sainte-Eulalie vineyard covers 40 hectares of gently sloping terraces (5 to 10%) at 250 metres altitude, fully south-facing and sheltered from the north wind. The soils are deeply stony, with a dominant clay-limestone composition rich in manganese, a rare geological signature that provides a dual practical advantage: the stones prevent erosion during heavy rainfall and retain moisture in summer by slowing evaporation. The terroir protects the vine as much as the vine expresses it.
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Viticulture and commitments
The organic certification achieved in 2023 was not a change of course, it was the culmination of a progressive approach launched the moment Isabelle and Laurent Coustal arrived. The High Environmental Value label, awarded in 2014, was the first milestone. At Château Sainte-Eulalie, methods do not change because they are fashionable. They are confirmed because they reflect a conviction held since the very first vintage.
The vineyard is planted at a density of 4,200 to 5,000 vines per hectare, with an average vine age exceeding 20 years, and in some parcels, over a century. These old vines, with their deep root systems, draw on the mineral reserves of the limestone, naturally resist Mediterranean drought, and yield concentrated, expressive grapes without the need for artificial yield management.
The grape varieties reflect the identity of the Minervois: 69% Syrah, the dominant variety, for structure and aromas of dark fruit and spice; 15% Carignan, particularly the old vines that contribute depth and garrigue character; 6% Mourvèdre for power; 5% Grenache Noir for roundness; and 3% Cinsault for freshness.
Grape varieties and appellations
Château Sainte-Eulalie produces under two distinct appellations. The exceptional reds are produced under the AOC Minervois La Livinière, Languedoc's recognised cru since 1999. The entry-level cuvées and the white and rosé wines fall under the AOC Minervois, the parent appellation of which La Livinière is the crown.
Syrah occupies the central role with 69% of the vineyard, a deliberate choice on this garrigue and limestone terroir where it delivers its finest qualities: dark fruit, pepper, violet. Old-vine Carignan (15%), often underestimated, contributes a complexity and minerality that younger varieties cannot replicate. The white wine offering is led by Sauvignon Blanc, vinified with the same precision as the reds.
Wine style and cuvées
Winemaking at Château Sainte-Eulalie follows a logic of progressive selection. The reds undergo a long maceration of three weeks to extract colour, tannins and aromas. The finest vats, led by Syrah and old-vine Carignan, are selected for barrel ageing. The whites and rosé are vinified at low temperature to preserve their full aromatic freshness.
Plaisir d'Eulalie - AOC Minervois
Red · Syrah, Carignan · Cement vat ageing · The entry-level cuvée
The everyday cuvée, fruity, generous, approachable from the moment it's opened. Three-week maceration, cement vat ageing that preserves the fruit without the weight of oak. An honest, sincere Minervois, serve with grilled meats, a daube or a board of southern French cheeses.
Buona Pulcella - AOC Minervois
Red · Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre · AOC Minervois
A wine of character that expresses the garrigue and spice of the La Livinière terroir. Deep colour, complex nose of dark fruit and thyme, full-bodied and persistent on the palate. The perfect bridge between immediate pleasure and genuine depth.
La Cantilène - AOC Minervois La Livinière
Red · Syrah, old-vine Carignan · 12 months in French oak barrels (25% new)
The estate's signature cuvée. Born from the finest vats of Syrah and old-vine Carignan, aged for 12 months in French oak with 25% new wood. Elegant, complex, with a long mineral finish. The wine that best articulates what La Livinière is capable of.
Bellezour Anima - AOC Minervois La Livinière — Grand Vin
Red · Parcel selection · Exceptional cuvée · Cellar wine
Bellezour Anima is not made every year. It is a strict parcel selection, Syrah and century-old Carignan, hand-harvested at peak ripeness, with extended ageing. On the palate: rare tannic depth, concentrated dark fruits, liquorice, and a persistent limestone minerality. A cellar wine built to age 10 to 15 years, made for exceptional occasions and patient cellars. The fullest expression of what La Livinière allows in its finest vintages.
Printemps d'Eulalie - AOC Minervois Rosé
Saignée rosé · Fermented at 15°C · No malolactic fermentation
A saignée rosé crafted at low temperature (15°C) to preserve the full freshness and aromatic richness of the grape varieties. Fruity, lively, with beautiful floral persistence. Perfect on a summer table under the Languedoc sun, salt cod brandade, thyme-grilled vegetables, light Mediterranean dishes.
Eulalie Sauvignon - White
White · Sauvignon Blanc · Direct pressing · Fermented at 16–18°C · No malolactic
A distinctive white wine in the Minervois landscape. Direct pressing at harvest, low-temperature fermentation (16 to 18°C) without malolactic, to preserve all the vivacity and floral, fruity aromas of the Sauvignon. Fresh, taut, with a fine length. Serve with grilled fish, seafood or fresh cheeses.
Direct from the estate · Delivery across France and Europe
What you will only find at Château Sainte-Eulalie
Languedoc's cru appellation, certified organic. La Livinière has been the only cru-level appellation in Languedoc since 1999. Château Sainte-Eulalie has been certified organic since 2023, a rare combination that places the estate among the benchmark producers of the entire Minervois.
Old vines planted in 1910. Over a century of root development in the stony limestone of La Livinière. These centenary vines, naturally resistant to Mediterranean drought, yield small quantities of grapes with an aromatic concentration that younger vines simply cannot match.
A unique manganese-rich terroir. The presence of manganese in La Livinière's clay-limestone soils is a rare geological signature. Combined with the stones that naturally regulate water retention in the soil, it gives the estate's wines a minerality and freshness that come as a surprise in such a warm Mediterranean terroir.
A family of oenologists. Isabelle and Laurent Coustal hold degrees from the University of Toulouse. Their daughter Marion has taken up the mantle. This estate is not run by managers, it is guided by people who have learned to read a soil, sense a fermentation, and taste an ageing. Every technical decision is informed by expertise passed from one generation to the next.
Frequently asked questions about Château Sainte-Eulalie
What is Minervois La Livinière ?
La Livinière is Languedoc's first officially recognised cru, awarded that status in 1999. It is an appellation within the Minervois appellation, produced on the stony hillsides of a village whose Occitan name, Lavineira, has meant "a place planted with vines" since 1069. Located 30 km from Carcassonne, this cru benefits from an exceptional terroir: clay-limestone soils rich in manganese, full south-facing exposure at 250 m altitude, and deeply-rooted old vines.
Why buy Château Sainte-Eulalie wines directly, without intermediaries ?
Because every bottle leaves directly from the Coustal family estate in La Livinière. No third-party warehouse, no break in storage conditions. You receive the wine exactly as Isabelle, Laurent and Marion maintain it, at its best, at a fair price, with the care of people who know precisely what they have put into every bottle.
What food pairings work with Château Sainte-Eulalie wines ?
The Plaisir d'Eulalie pairs with grilled meats, braised lamb and regional cheese boards. The Buona Pulcella excels with slow-cooked dishes, duck magret or a spiced lamb tagine. La Cantilène calls for a fine dining table, roast lamb, squab with olives, prime rib of beef. The Bellezour Anima deserves exceptional occasions: game, black truffle, richly spiced dishes. The Printemps d'Eulalie rosé accompanies summer meals, salads and light Mediterranean cuisine. The Eulalie Sauvignon Blanc is made for fish, seafood and fresh cheeses.
Are Château Sainte-Eulalie wines organic ?
Yes, since 2023, when the estate obtained its official Organic Farming certification. It had already received the High Environmental Value label in April 2014, confirming a continuous environmental commitment since the Coustal family arrived in 1996. This certification reflects a conviction held since the very first vintage: preserving the ecological integrity of the La Livinière terroir.
How long can you cellar a Château Sainte-Eulalie wine ?
The Plaisir d'Eulalie is best enjoyed within 2 to 5 years. La Cantilène, barrel-aged, reveals its full complexity between 5 and 10 years. The Bellezour Anima, the exceptional cuvée, is a cellar wine that can age 10 to 15 years under good storage conditions. The whites and rosé are best enjoyed young to make the most of their aromatic freshness.
What is the price range of Château Sainte-Eulalie wines ?
The range starts with the Plaisir d'Eulalie, an accessible entry-level cuvée and an ideal introduction to the Minervois appellation. It extends progressively to La Cantilène and the Bellezour Anima, the estate's grand cellar wine produced from the strictest parcel selection. Purchased through direct sourcing on Avenue des Vins, prices reflect the estate directly, no negociant margin, no intermediary markup. Current vintages and pricing are available on the boutique.
Direct sourcing · Shipped from the domaine ·
Château Sainte-Eulalie - Minervois, Languedoc, Occitanie
AOC Minervois La Livinière - Certified Organic - HVE
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