Xavier Braujou has been running the family-owned Terrasse d'Elise domain since 1998, although he continued to work as a woodcutter until 2008. Keeping quality as his constant watchword, he has chosen to reduce yields dramatically (to around 20 hl/ha) and to work with old grape varieties on his 20 hectares of vines. In particular, he opts to create some single varietal wines, showcasing his Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes – too often considered to only be grapes for blending. Although not certified, the vineyard is run according to organic and biodynamic principles. Minute attention is paid to the vines, in the winery and the cellar in order to produce the best wines. In the winery, he doesn’t interfere much and doesn’t punch down or pump over; all this contributes to the balance of these perfectly spot-on wines.
Xavier Braujou spent several years as an outsider in Languedoc, before becoming one of the most beloved properties by wine enthusiasts. We can highly recommend all of the estate’s wines and once we start talking about them, we find it hard to stop!

The Pradel is a pure Cinsault, which makes it rare enough to mention, especially since it is a very fine cuvée. It is aged for 12 months in barriques. The nose, complex and subtle, delivers beautiful aromas of small red berries (raspberry, cherry), floral notes (rose, iris), as well as light notes of spices and liquorice. On the palate, we discover great delicacy and considerable sweetness, a silky and ethereal texture, with well-melted tannins; its length is noteworthy. This remarkable wine goes perfectly with red meat and duck.