Domaine Sainte Cécile du Parc Sonatina 2009 (red) AOC Coteaux du Languedoc
by Paige Donner
Tasting Notes : Garnet with deep raspberry reflections for color. Very Syrah – nose of mocha, Seville orange, garrigue; Palate opens to mocha, silky tannins with a fresh attack, fleshy and ample, ripe blackberries and pepper. Lots of wine trade praise for this wine i.e. a sommelier fave. 14.5% alc. Drink now, keep 4-8 years.1 Star Guide Hachette 2013, IWC commended 2012.
Price: € 12
Production Notes : Hand harvested, clay-limestone terraces. Vinified in 50 hl oak vats. Aged in 225ltr and 600ltr barrels for 12 months.
Pair With : Red meats, fresh game from the hunt, French cheese. Serve decanted at 17-18ºC
Sainte-Cécile was the patron saint of musicians, hence the names of the harmonious wines that flow forth from Domaine Sainte-Cécile-du-Parc are inspired by music – Notes Pures, Notes d’Orphée…
When Christine and Stéphane Mouton-Bertoli bought this Pézenas Estate back in 2005, it was with the intention to one day cultivate all organic vineyards. They are well-along that path, as they are the path to creating outstanding Languedoc wines.
Languedoc wines, from the S. of France, are very much in fashion now again after long-suffering under the shadow of their northern celebrity brothers and sisters. Pézenas, a beautiful little sea-side town just 20 minutes from Montpellier, still harbors vestiges of sea shells and sea fauna which are embedded in the estate’s terroir.
Estate Philosophy: “Committed practitioners of sustainable viticulture, we firmly believe that reasoned and reasonable (agriculture raisonnée) winegrowing practices are the only way to ensure that one day our children will be ale to work the land with as much pleasure as we do. Balanced soils, mechanical weeding, biological pest and disease control and patience, are all crucial elements to produce thoroughbred wines which reflect their origin.” – Christine and Stéphane Mouton-Bertoli
Domaine Sainte-Cécile-du-Parc is a 15 hectare estate, 13 ha. are high-density planted with vines (for reduced yields), the vineyards are fully irrigated, and the prestige cuvée’s are hand-harvested. There are also a few olive trees on the estate that lend their Mediterranean mystique.
When the husband-wife team bought the property, they inherited existing vines of Syrah, Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan and Cabernet-Sauvignon. They re-planted Cabernet-Franc, Merlot, Marselan and Grenache between ’06 and ’09. Hillside terraces are predominantly clay-limestone. The new cellar and winery was ready in time for 2011’s harvest – it’s of contemporary design. Indeed, the property the Mouton-Bertoli’s bought may date back to the Middle Ages, but the approach they take to their wines is altogether modern – this may be part of what factored into their wines being selected for WineFuture 2012 (Hong Kong and ViniSud) by the official AOC Languedoc selecting committee.
Chérie Du Vin 
Hello! merci d’avoir partagé cet article et aussi toutes ces belles photos sur ton blog. je suis également passionné par les animaux et j’ai même débuté un blog y’a peu de temps. a bientôt, Julie