For wine consumers, especially those who like hand-crafted, highly individual wines that express the place where they were grown and are sensibly priced too, Languedoc-Roussillon is the perfect playground.
Located near the medieval village of Pézenas in the heart of the Languedoc region, Domaine de Nizas was established in 1998 by Franco-American agriculturist, John Goelet, a member of a distinguished family in Bordeaux. With Bernard Portet at his side, a fellow visionary in the world of wine rooted in respect for tradition, they shared a driving ambition to create great wines in exceptional terroirs. This led to the creation of Clos du Val in Napa Valley as well as Taltarni and Clover Hill in Australia.
Portet identified the terroir around Pézenas as one of extraordinary promise. Individual plots which represented three different soil types, or terroirs, were acquired to create Domaine de Nizas which would allow them to craft high-quality artisanal wines that express the spirit of the Mediterranean. Portet then worked with the local team on a major replanting to match the right grape varietals to the different terroirs. He remains involved as technical advisor.
Wines
VITICULTURE
Pézenas enjoys a Mediterranean climate with low rainfall and warm, dry summers. The sweeping vineyards benefit from cool North winds and “Tramontane” which blow over the mountains towards the sea and warm Mediterranean sunshine which, together, protect the vines and keep them vigorous.
With 100 acres of planted vines ranging from 60 year-old Carignan to more recently planted Syrah and Grenache, Domaine de Nizas’ terroir offers a unique mosaic of three soil types: pebbles, basalt and limestone. These soils are deep and provide excellent drainage while retaining freshness and humidity at deep root level, allowing grapes to ripen fully without stress to the vines.
Domaine de Nizas has been certified as a sustainable vineyard since 2007. The vines are worked manually and precisely for pruning, bud removal, lifting the wires, and if required, removing excess grapes. The winery maintains a long term view, conserving the soils by using ploughing and grass rather than herbicides.
THE WINES
At the center of Domaine de Nizas’ terroir is the unique mosaic of three soil types. Limestone Clay (Marne Calcaire) are white soils that make powerful wines. When planted with Syrah, it creates wines with red fruit and violet characters. The Basalt soils are volcanic based, unique within the Languedoc region, and rare throughout the world. Syrah planted on basalt soils often results in wines with spice and licorice notes alongside a good tannic structure. River gravel (Villafranchien) is a blend of river pebbles and red clay. It is the soil type often found in the Chateauneuf du Pape area of the Southern Rhone Valley. It imparts chocolate and coffee aromas, finesse and structure, as well as generous acidity that allows the Syrahs to age.
