Michel Escande is one of the great characters of the Languedoc. From an early nautical career, he became in the late 1990s one of the leading voices in the successful movement to recognise the soils of Minervois la Livinière as special and worthy, hitherto unheard of in the Languedoc, of its own wine appellation, a cru within a cru as it were.

Borie de Maurel is one of the leading wine estates of the 35 or so in this fine appellation and Michel’s good work has been taken on by his sons Gabriel and Maxime, not to mention their two Percheron mares, Luna and Ninon.

The soils of the Petite Causse in the foothills of the Montagne Nore are dominated by sandstone and clay on the plateaux and by glacial limestone on the steeper ground. The natural approach in vineyard and winery alike is key to the quality and reputation of this wine Domaine.