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Discover Domaine Belles Courbes in photos
Domaine Belles Courbes: wines of character, sculpted by nature
Domaine Belles Courbes
An AOP Saint-Chinian estate near Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit (north of Béziers), taken over in 2015 by Jacques and Mireille Tournat. 12 hectares at 250 m, vines planted along contour lines on schist soils, aged 55 years on average. Considered viticulture, cuvees Marine, Carignan, L'Absolue and Symphonia.
At the heart of the AOP Saint-Chinian, on the foothills of the Montagne Noire and the Cévennes, Domaine Belles Courbes embodies a demanding, thoughtful viticulture, deeply respectful of its environment. Here, nothing is left to chance: neither the shape of the plots, nor the way the vine is grown, nor the style of the wines.
A mastered transmission, between tradition and precision
Taken over in 2015 by Jacques and Mireille Tournat, the estate is part of the continuity of the work begun by Jean-Benoît Pelletier, an epicurean figure who shaped the soul of the vineyard. An oenologist trained in Bordeaux, Jacques Tournat continues this adventure with a clear line: do little, but do it right. He refines the methods, strengthens the precision of the vinifications and quickly drives a new qualitative dynamic. Mireille Tournat, a doctor by profession, supports the project on the commercial side with the same demand and a deeply human approach to the craft.
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A unique vineyard, drawn against erosion
The estate takes its name from a choice as aesthetic as it is technical: the vines are planted along contour lines, following the relief of three hills. This approach makes it possible to limit natural erosion, optimise sunlight and lastingly preserve the soils. The vineyard covers 12 hectares, at around 250 metres of altitude, near Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit, north of Béziers.
Schist, old vines and aromatic intensity
The mostly schist soils play a central role in the style of the wines. Poor, draining and demanding, they favour a natural concentration of aromas and substance. The vines, aged on average 55 years, produce grapes at low yields but with very high expressive potential. In the glass, this translates into deep, structured reds, with spicy and Mediterranean notes, complex and ample rosés, far from easy standards, and identity cuvees, designed for the table as much as for pleasure.
Measured innovation, assertive wines
In just a few years, Jacques Tournat has evolved the vinification practices, notably on the rosés: manual harvesting, transport of the grapes in refrigerated crates, a maximum search for freshness and aromatic precision. Two cuvees particularly embody this new era: the Rosé Marine, aged in oak barrels, bold and gastronomic, and the Carignan, a 100% single-varietal red, a vibrant tribute to the old vines of the Languedoc. Recognition follows: the majority of the estate's wines are regularly distinguished by the Guide Hachette. To discover direct from the estate.
Rosé "Marine"
Rosé - aged in oak barrels
The flagship cuvee of the new era: a bold, gastronomic rosé, aged in oak barrels, complex and ample, far from easy standards. Manual harvesting and refrigerated crates for maximum freshness and aromatic precision.
Carignan
Red - 100% Carignan, old vines on schist
A 100% Carignan single-varietal red, a vibrant tribute to the old vines of the Languedoc: deep colour, a nose of garrigue and black fruits, fine structure, fine tannins and generous substance.
L'Absolue
Red - AOC Saint-Chinian
A deep, structured Saint-Chinian, with spicy and Mediterranean notes: the accomplished expression of the estate's schist soils and old vines, designed for the table as much as for pleasure.
Symphonia
Red - AOC Saint-Chinian
An identity cuvee of Saint-Chinian, dense and aromatic: the natural concentration of the poor, draining soils, on spices, black fruits and fine terroir depth.
Terroir Saint-Chinian, direct from the estate
A considered, coherent and sincere viticulture
At Domaine Belles Courbes, the environmental commitment translates into concrete acts: no herbicide, no insecticide, no ploughing, and active preservation of biodiversity (pines, white oaks, flowering shrubs, aromatic herbs). The vines evolve within a living ecosystem, surrounded by hills, where nature fully plays its role of balance.
Languedoc wines with depth and relief
Taken over in 2015 by Jacques and Mireille Tournat, Domaine Belles Courbes crafts sincere, precise and never caricatural wines. On the schists of Saint-Chinian, old vines of 55 years planted along contour lines, a considered viticulture and identity cuvees: the Rosé Marine, the Carignan, L'Absolue and Symphonia.
Why choose the Domaine Belles Courbes wines?
A schist terroir in Saint-Chinian. Poor, draining soils, old vines of 55 years, vines along contour lines at 250 m.
A demand for precision. Jacques Tournat, a Bordeaux oenologist: do little, but do it right, with a new dynamic.
A considered viticulture. No herbicide, no insecticide, no ploughing, preserved biodiversity.
Awarded, identity cuvees. Rosé Marine, Carignan, L'Absolue and Symphonia, regularly distinguished by the Guide Hachette.
Frequently asked questions about Domaine Belles Courbes
How do schist soils and planting vines along contour lines influence the style of Saint-Chinian wines like those of Domaine Belles Courbes?
The schist soils, poor, draining and demanding, favour a natural concentration of aromas and substance, while preserving fine freshness thanks to their drainage and the altitude of around 250 metres. Planting along contour lines, which follows the relief of the hills, limits erosion, optimises sunlight and lastingly preserves the soils. Combined with old vines of 55 years on average and low yields, this gives deep, structured wines, with spicy and Mediterranean notes, but never heavy: concentration, relief and freshness all at once.
Where is Domaine Belles Courbes located?
At the heart of the AOP Saint-Chinian, on the foothills of the Montagne Noire and the Cévennes, near Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit, north of Béziers. The vineyard covers 12 hectares at around 250 metres of altitude, over three hills.
Who runs Domaine Belles Courbes?
Taken over in 2015 by Jacques and Mireille Tournat, in the continuity of the work begun by Jean-Benoît Pelletier. Jacques Tournat, an oenologist trained in Bordeaux, refines the methods with a clear line: do little, but do it right. Mireille Tournat, a doctor by profession, supports the project on the commercial side, with a deeply human approach.
Why is the estate called Belles Courbes?
The estate takes its name from a choice as aesthetic as it is technical: the vines are planted along contour lines, following the relief of three hills. This approach makes it possible to limit natural erosion, optimise sunlight and lastingly preserve the soils.
Is Domaine Belles Courbes organic?
The estate practises a considered, coherent and sincere viticulture, with concrete acts: no herbicide, no insecticide, no ploughing, and active preservation of biodiversity (pines, white oaks, flowering shrubs, aromatic herbs). The vines evolve within a living ecosystem, surrounded by hills.
What is the terroir of Domaine Belles Courbes?
Mostly schist soils, poor, draining and demanding, which favour a natural concentration of aromas and substance. The vineyard covers 12 hectares at around 250 metres of altitude, with vines aged on average 55 years, at low yields but with very high expressive potential.
What are the cuvees of Domaine Belles Courbes?
Deep, structured reds in AOC Saint-Chinian (L'Absolue, Symphonia), a 100% Carignan single-varietal red from old vines, and the Rosé Marine, aged in oak barrels, bold and gastronomic. Identity cuvees, designed for the table as much as for pleasure.
What is the Rosé Marine?
The cuvee that embodies the estate's new era: a rosé aged in oak barrels, bold and gastronomic, complex and ample. It benefits from manual harvesting and transport of the grapes in refrigerated crates, for a maximum search for freshness and aromatic precision.
What is the Carignan cuvee?
A 100% Carignan single-varietal red, a vibrant tribute to the old vines of the Languedoc, on schist soils. Deep colour with purple glints, a nose of garrigue and black fruits, fine structure, fine tannins and generous substance.
What is the style of the Domaine Belles Courbes wines?
Sincere, precise and never caricatural wines: deep, structured reds with spicy and Mediterranean notes, and complex, ample rosés, far from easy standards. Cuvees that tell of a landscape, a method and a vision, and leave a lasting mark.
Are the Domaine Belles Courbes wines awarded?
Yes: the majority of the estate's wines are regularly distinguished by the Guide Hachette, proof of a strong identity and great consistency, driven by the new qualitative dynamic led by Jacques Tournat.
Can you buy the Domaine Belles Courbes wines directly?
Yes: the cuvees are available here, direct from the estate, carefully shipped across France and Europe.
Direct from the estate, terroir Saint-Chinian
Domaine Belles Courbes - an AOP Saint-Chinian estate near Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit (north of Béziers), taken over in 2015 by Jacques and Mireille Tournat: 12 hectares at 250 m, vines of 55 years planted along contour lines on schist soils, considered viticulture.
Rosé Marine (oak barrels), Carignan (100% old vines), L'Absolue and Symphonia (AOC Saint-Chinian) - regularly distinguished by the Guide Hachette