Château d'Anglès

Château d'Anglès sits on the La Clape massif, a rocky outcrop that was once an island off the Mediterranean coast near Narbonne. The Romans were the first to plant vines here over 2000 years ago, choosing the Bourboulenc grape because they believed it brought wisdom. The estate itself has a noble history, governed by the Baillys d'Anglès family from 1226 until the French Revolution. After the Revolution, local mayor Barthélémy Etienne d'Anglès reclaimed the property, and it remained in the family for over a century before being divided in the late 1800s.

In 2001, Eric and Christine Fabre reunited the estate and restored its original name. Both come from winemaking families, and their search for quality terroir in the south of France led them straight to this special place. The property spans 80 hectares, with 45 planted to vines and the rest left as wild garrigue and pine forest. The vineyards enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year, cooled by Mediterranean breezes, and the vines dig deep into hostile limestone soils surrounded by aromatic scrubland. In 2015, La Clape became the Languedoc's first communal appellation, recognizing the unique character of these wines.

Eric Fabre spent eight years as technical director at Château Lafite Rothschild in Pauillac before falling in love with the Mediterranean. He was drawn to La Clape specifically for the Mourvèdre grape, which thrives in this cooler coastal climate and develops fine, powerful tannins. When Eric and Christine arrived, they restructured the vineyard to balance traditional varieties like Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan for reds, and Bourboulenc, Roussanne, and Marsanne for whites. Their son Vianney joined the family business in 2010 after studying winemaking in Bordeaux and working five years for Bollinger Champagne around the world. Today, Vianney manages the estate using organic methods, and the property holds Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 certification. The Fabres work with real respect for the environment, following each section of the vineyard closely.

Château d'Anglès produces two ranges of wines. The Classique range includes red, white, and rosé wines that are fresh, fruity, and approachable. The Grand Vin range spends time in oak barrels, developing greater complexity and structure. For whites, the Classique features Bourboulenc for freshness and structure, blended with Grenache, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The Grand Vin blanc showcases old Bourboulenc and Grenache vines, some 60 years old, creating a perfumed, complex wine that Eric is particularly proud of. The red Classique blends Syrah for fruit and spice with Grenache for roundness and Mourvèdre for structure, plus that refreshing menthol touch typical of La Clape. The Grand Vin rouge contains 40% Syrah and 40% Mourvèdre, plus Grenache and Carignan, aged 10 months in a mix of new and older barrels. These are wines that balance southern power with coastal elegance.