Corbières & Minervois 2022 vintage rating: 4 / 5
Corbières & Minervois 2021 vintage rating: 3 / 5
Despite the rumbling autoroute that forges east-west through its heart and the sea of towering wind turbines that stand like sentinels, Corbières is still a wild, roughhewn landscape, a lumpy and scraggy expanse of vines and garrigue.
It’s a huge appellation: by far the largest in the Languedoc both in terms of production (around 270,000hl per year) and area under vine (8,300ha). As Rosemary George MW says in her 2018 book Wines of the Languedoc, ‘the particularity of Corbières is the diversity of its terroir, for both soil, which is mainly clay limestone, and climate, ranging from Oceanic in the far west to a warm Mediterranean climate on the coast.’
This diversity is a strength (varieties and blends differ significantly depending on location, and Carignan is of particular note), but also a weakness (despite its size and potential, it has only come up with one cru, Boutenac).
Corbières’ neighbour Minervois abuts the Montagne Noire on its northern flank, and also has just one cru – La Livinière.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Corbières & Minervois wines from 2022 & 2021
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"}
The village of La Livinière. Credit: Decanter / Natalie Earl.
Top-scoring wines
White
Maxime Magnon, La Bégou, Corbières 2022 – 95 points
Domaine Pierre Bories, Le Blanc, Corbières 2021 – 93 points
Château La Baronne, Les Chemins, Corbières 2022 – 93 points
Château Ollieux Romanis, Prestige Blanc, Corbières 2021 – 93 points
Red
Château Ollieux Romanis, Atal Sia, Corbières Boutenac 2021 – 94 points
Domaine la Bouysse, Terrassaé, Corbières 2022 – 93 points
Château Sainte-Eulalie Bellezour Anima Minervois La Livinière 2021 – 93 points
Domaine Combe Blanche, La Chandelière, Minervois La Livinière 2020 – 93 points
Famille Fabre’s old Grenache vines on Corbières’ cru Boutenac terroir. Credit: Decanter / Natalie Earl.
Top five value wines
Domaine Py, Troisième Cuvée, Corbieres 2022 – 91 points
Château Beauregard Mirouze, Campana, Corbières 2022 – 90 points
Clos de L’Anhel, Le Lolo de L’Anhel, Corbières 2022 – 92 points
Domaine Combe Blanche, La Chandelière, Minervois La Livinière 2020 – 93 points
Château Maris, La Touge, Minervois La Livinière 2020 – 94 points
Tasting at Maxime Magnon. Maxime Magnon (left), Natalie Earl (right).
Top five producers to look out for
Maxime Magnon, Corbières
A Burgundy native, Maxime Magnon started his own domaine in the Corbières in 2002 after working in Beaujolais with Marcel Lapierre. He now makes sought-after wines from predominantly very old vines (80-120 years old) that have great finesse and a lightness of touch.
Domaine Ledogar, Corbières
Xavier and Mathieu took over the family domaine in 1997, stopped selling the grapes to the local cooperative, and soon converted to organics and then biodynamics. Characterful wines.
Château Beauregard Mirouze, Corbières
A domaine that’s newly on my radar, this is a young husband and wife team who have taken over the family estate, converting to organics in 2010 and biodynamics in 2018. One to watch.
Domaine la Bouysse, Corbières
A new discovery, a family affair. Both white and red 2022s impressed. One to seek out.
Château Maris, Minervois
A good example of making biodynamic wine at some scale, this domaine has made great leaps in pushing forward on sustainable viticulture and was one of the first European vineyards to obtain BCorp certification.
