Terre des Dames
Terre des Dames
+ History
Terre des Dames (“Land of the Ladies”) is led by the fearless and fierce Lidewij van Wilgen (Lee). At 30, she and her husband left the world of advertising in the Netherlands to refurbish a run-down 18th century farmhouse in the Languedoc outside the medieval town of Murviel-Lès-Béziers.
When they and their three daughters moved in, both the house and the vines were in poor shape. While those were under renovations, Lee studied oenology at the local school where she faced scrutiny because she was neither French nor a man. Meanwhile, her neighbors were pressuring her to pull out the old vines, replant with high production, and spray, spray, spray. To which she adamantly refused. Oh, and she and her husband divorced, leaving her alone to tend to the farm, the house renovations, and three girls.
Thanks to her determination, Lee was one of only three students in her class of 30 to graduate, and now enjoys the concentrated, beautiful, organically grown fruit from her old vines (most between 50-70 years, with one parcel over 100).
Lee farms 14ha in total, all organic (certified 2009), and regularly reduces yields below 40hl/ha. She sorts rigorously and uses a gentle hand in the cellar. Always native yeasts, and minimal oak for aging.
Terre des Dames ‘Diva Blanche’ VdP
+ Wine Notes
Like all of the wines at Terre de Dames, this wine is far classier than it's price point would indicate. It carries the Vin de Pays appellation because they choose not to blend the old vine Grenache Blanc. The oak is present in the way it should be, like an adornment that adds to the whole without being noticed. And unlike so many examples of Grenache Blanc, it has acidity to spare.
+Technical Details
VARIETIES: Grenache Blanc
Appellation: Vin de Pays
VINEYARDS: Certified organic, old vine estate vineyards. Soils are clay/limestone with fossilised Oyster shells common among the vines.
VINE AGE: 50+ years old
FARMING: Organic
WINEMAKING: Hand harvested. Fermented and aged in 600L French oak. 50% new.
Terre de Dames ‘La Dame’ Rouge Languedoc
+ Wine Notes
The entry level wine that drinks like a flagship wine. As alwasy with Terre des Dames, the wine is elegant and classy. No oak here allows the fruit to shine. A bit more primary than the La Diva, but still with depth and freshness.
+Technical Details
VARIETIES: 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 20% Syrah
VINEYARDS: Estate vineyards. Clay limestone soils.
VINE AGE: 35 to 70 years old
FARMING: Organic.
WINEMAKING: Hand harvested and selected. Long and gentle maceration. Gentle pressing. Fermented and aged in concrete.
Terre des Dames ‘La Diva’ Rouge Languedoc
+ Wine Notes
The wine that really defines the domaine for us. Like usual here, it tastes like it costs twice as much as it does. It's polished and regal without being gaudy or boring. Perfectly ripe fruit, very well used oak, great acidity - excellent precision from start to finish. This is such a great wine at any price and silly good for what it actually costs.
+Technical Details
VARIETIES: 55% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 15% Alicante
VINEYARDS: Estate vineyards.
VINE AGE: 50 to 100 years
FARMING: Organic.
WINEMAKING: Hand harvested and selected. Long and gentle fermentation. Aged in 600L French oak for 12 months.