Château de Gourgazaud
What makes Château de Gourgazaud truly unique is not only its long-standing family stewardship—five generations and counting—but also the bold vision of Roger Piquet, whose efforts helped establish La Livinière as the Languedoc’s first official Cru.
The cuvées named after his granddaughters pay tribute to this heritage while expressing the depth of their respective terroirs. They are wines of identity and conviction, born from a shared passion and a deep respect for nature’s rhythms.
These are not just wines. They are the living memory of a land, a family, and the enduring pursuit of excellence.
History
Nestled among pine forests and leaning against the first foothills of the Montagne Noire, Château de Gourgazaud stands like an island in the heart of the Minervois. Since 1870, the Piquet family has shaped its identity around the vine. It all began with Ernest, a wine merchant from the Paris region, followed by his son Marcel, and then Roger, a true visionary who acquired the estate in 1973. He breathed new life into it by planting the first Syrah and Viognier vines in the area and played a key role in the creation of the La Livinière Cru, officially recognized in 1999.
Today, his daughters Chantale and Annick, along with the third generation—Mélanie, Mathilde, and Morgane—carry on the legacy. Each has given her name to a cuvée, embodying the continuity, boldness, and sensitivity of this family story.
The Vineyard
The estate’s vineyards span a remarkable diversity of terroirs: ancient, decalcified terraces, clay-limestone soils, and mineral-rich layers of schist, quartz, and marble. This geological wealth, combined with a mild Mediterranean climate tempered by oceanic breezes and cool nights, ensures optimal ripening and preserves aromatic freshness.
Some of the vines are over 45 years old and are trained using Cordon de Royat or six-bud Guyot pruning, depending on the parcel. Yields are kept low—around 40 hl/ha—to concentrate the expression of the fruit. Young vines classified as AOP La Livinière complement older parcels classified under AOP Minervois, striking a fine balance in the blends.
Winemaking & Aging
Upon arrival at the cellar, the grapes are carefully selected before undergoing whole-berry maceration for around twenty days at controlled temperatures. Extraction is gentle and conducted with oxygen to favor supple tannins and fruit purity.
The blends are assembled after fermentation: Mathilde features 80% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre; Mélanie combines Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Grenache in a more structured composition; and Le Secret de Mathilde draws on all three varietals, adjusting proportions to achieve harmony. Mathilde is aged in stainless steel tanks, Mélanie spends a year in oak barrels from the Tronçais forest, while Le Secret de Mathilde sees partial ageing in 2- to 3-year-old barrels, also from Tronçais.
Wine Character
Each cuvée tells its own story. Mathilde opens with red fruit notes, evolving toward stewed prunes and a hint of truffle, delivering a fleshy, approachable mouthfeel—ideal with red meats and cheese.
Le Secret de Mathilde strikes a balance between richness and refinement. Deep purple in color, it offers a bouquet of red berries and spice, unfolding into notes of prune and truffle. The palate is smooth and well-structured, with a subtle hint of vanilla on the finish—an elegant, finely crafted wine.
Mélanie, a Cru La Livinière wine, displays delicate vanilla aromas and a silky texture on the palate, with expressive red fruits and a lingering, elegant finish. The barrel ageing adds finesse and complexity without overpowering the wine’s natural charm.
