Maison du Vin Featured Grower
Bassanel History
The history of Bassanel is closely linked to the history of the Minervois
region whose Roman origin name comes from Minerve, a village that will strike the
visitor with its beauty and rich historical background. The Greek, Roman, Monastic,
Benedictine, Cathar ages followed one another passing on an identity that has always
drawn its strength from vineyards. The remnants of the Roman oppidum (settlement) and
the little chapel of Bassanel are a testimony of the past.
For the love of wine, Benoît d'Aniane and more than three hundred Benedictine
monks built beautiful abbeys. As Minervois wines overshadowed those of Narbonne, the
troops of Simon de Montfort besieged the citadel of Minerve.
This was the first stage of the Crusade. It is still in the Minervois region that the
first committee of defence has been created - gathering with Marcellin Albert, wine
growers in revolt against fraud.
Environment:
In the Minervois region, Bassanel is one of these rare places where the earth, the
stone, the light and the air are the simple definition for a magical atmosphere.
But it is also a place where the landscape, vineyards and men move with the winds.
First of all, the Cers wind, chilly in winter and very hot in summer. Always dry,
sometimes fierce, it heralds a fine weather.
In September, it burns the harvest or dries the grapes soaked by a storm. The other
wind is the Marin. Warm, heavy, damp, it counterbalances a little the scorching effect
of the summer months.
Bassanel waits for the rain to fall! The latter is so unusual that we sometimes compare
the dryness of the region with that of Africa. Few species stand up to such climatic
conditions! Vines and olive trees are part of them.
Soils:
Located in the heart of the Minervois, Bassanel is sheltered from the Mediterranean
rains and the influence of the Atlantic Ocean.
People say that vines must suffer to produce quality wines. At Bassanel, water
reserves are priceless.
In this region, the landscape is called "Mourels".
A succession of rocky crests indented like a piece of lace and crowned with
Alep pine trees, separate small valleys and hills on which vineyards grow.
The soil is characterised by limestone molasses, marls and isolated clay pans on
sandy layers.
People:
Today, a new inspiration enlivens the magical spirit of the domain thanks to Jean Vezon who bought Bassanel in spring 2001.
The love of the place and its history combined with the love of wine encouraged this passionate self-taught man to take up the challenge.
His creed? Everything originates from the vineyard. The latter creates and feeds its soil if the environment is lively.
This is why Jean Vezon gives it greater importance by perfecting the working of the land. In this way, the subtle balance between Bassanel fauna and flora is restored.
During his world tour of the vineyards, Nicolas Laverny showed his professional expertise at Bordeaux, in Corsica, Hungary and Australia to finally stop in the Minervois region where he is responsible for Bassanel vineyards and cellar.
The Vines:
Most of Bassanel vineyards are 15 to 20 years old. Our old vines of the Carignan grape variety are more than 40. We work with the typical varieties of the Minervois Appellation: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan… planted on the steep parcels of the hillside argilo-calcareous soils. The parcels surrounding the domain consist of sandier soils on which the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier varieties are located. They constitute our Vins de Pays. New varieties are being planted, such as Mourvedre, black and white Grenache.
Wine Making:
Let us remind you that the first vintage is new as it is the 2001. However, from the very start, our wish was to lead our cellar work so as to enhance the original character of each soil.
Each parcel is harvested and vinified separately, so that each of our "micro soils" has corresponding small vat.
We combine modern vinification – the use of inert gas, tight control of temperatures,
micro-aeration - with more traditional methods such as carbonic maceration for our old
Carignan grape variety.
The most full-bodied wines are left in casks for 8 to 15 months, so that heir
tannins become refined and the wine becomes soft and well balanced.
Tel: 01580 753487 / Fax: 01580 755627