BARDI D'ALQUIER
LANGUEDOC / FAUGÈRES
Sophie and Thibaud Bardi de Fourtou took over this historic Faugères estate in 2017. The couple's goal is to preserve the house style, whose vineyard is dominated by old syrahs from massal selections (among the first planted in Languedoc in the 1960s by Gilbert Alquier), complemented by mourvèdre and grenache. In just three years, they have worked tirelessly to convert to organic farming and to plant mourvèdre in order to integrate the grape varietal into their blends. The winery was completely rebuilt underground, while preserving a portion of the concrete containers from the previous owner.
The property embodies a traditional approach to winemaking that values the terroir, utilizing a combination of technical proficiency and creative experimentation to cultivate an exceptional product.
Blessed with an exceptional terroir of schist and clay, their vineyard, situated at an altitude of 340 meters, spans 12 hectares and is primarily composed of syrah grapes from massal selections, as well as older varietals such as grenache, mourvedre, and carignan, with small portions dedicated to white grapes such as grenache blanc, marsanne, and roussanne.
The wines produced at the Domaine Bardi d'Alquier are characterized by their finesse, balance, and complex aromatic profiles, embodying the unique characteristics of the Faugères terroir.
Owner
Region
Terroirs
Farming
Harvest
Size
Grapes Grown
Website
Vineland Rep.
Sophie et Thibaud Bardi
Languedoc
Faugères
Organic
Manual
12 hectares
Grenache blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Carignan, Grenache noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre.
Bardi d’Alquier "Les Pierres Blanches" sAUVIGNON BLANC
"Les Pierres Blanches" is a Sauvignon Blanc on the blue-gray schist of Faugères. This high-altitude rock, swept by the Mediterranean Sea breeze gives this wine great tension with a floral nose and a beautiful minerality on the palate.
Appellation: IGP Pays d'Hérault
Terroir: Gray-blue schistous soil, bottom of hills, loose and aerated structure, natural winter growth.
Grapes: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vinification: Cold fermentation, vegetable fining.
Aging: 6 months in steel tanks on fine lees, very light filtration
Yield: 45 hl/ha
Storage potential: To be drunk within 3 years.
Notes: The wine has a very expressive aroma, with scents of white fruits like pear, vegetal notes like santolina and cistus, and mineral notes like flint. On the palate, it is smooth, full-bodied and lively, with a beautiful minerality that adds a lot of freshness. The finish is long and airy.
Bardi d’Alquier "Les Vignes du Puits"
The "Les Vignes du Puits" cuvee is a traditional blend from Languedoc: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne. White wines are not commonly found in the AOP Faugères, representing less than 5% of the total production of the region. This is a rare and original wine, elegant and ideal for fine dining and also perfect for aging.
Appellation: AOP Faugères Blanc
Terroir: Gray-blue schistous soil, bottom of hills, loose and aerated structure, natural winter growth
Parcel: Le Puits
Grapes: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne
Vinification: Cold fermentation, vegetable fining
Aging: 9 months in steel tanks on fine lees Yield: 25 hl/ha
Storage potential: 5 to 10 years.
Notes: The wine has a Mediterranean aroma with floral and spicy notes, and a light smoky note that fades as the wine is opened. On the palate, it is tense and has a long finish. It also has flavors of dried and cand fruits, and has a good balance of acidity and body. The finish has a floral and garrigue flavors.
90
2010
JD
Bardi d’Alquie Rosé « Les Cinq Pétales »
The "Les Cinq Pétales" is the first rosé wine created by the winery. Its name, "Les Cinq Pétales" comes from its terroir, a plot surrounded by woods, but especially surrounded by many spring flowers all with 5 petals: The Petite Centaurée, Campanule, Nigella Damascena, Pied d'Alouette. A deep and endearing terroir.
Appellation: AOP Faugères Rosé
Terroir: Gray-blue schistous gravelly soils; significant mineral composition, acidic solutions in depth, very filtering soil.
Parcels: L'Eglise and Petit Bois
Grape varieties: Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre
Yield: 30 to 35 hl/ha
Vinification: Night harvests, 100% destemmed, direct pressing, only juice run-off, vegetable fining, no filtration
Aging: 6 months in steel tanks on fine lees Storage potential: To be drunk within 3 years.
Tasting notes: The wine has a clear, bright, shiny, pale pink color. On the nose, it has a very aromatic scent with a sweetness from citrus notes such as grapefruit, kumquat, and softened by a very fine note of agastache. On the palate, it is fresh, lively, tense and yet enveloping; at the end of the taste, there is a discreet return of fruit flavor.
Bardi d’Alquier "Les Premières"
The "Les Premières" cuvee is the entry level wine of the winery. It's a wine that is mostly made of syrah grapes grown at low altitude, complemented by Grenache and Carignan. It is aged for a minimum of one year. This cuvee can be enjoyed young and fruity or aged for 5 to 10 years.
Appellation: AOP Faugères
Terroir: Gray schist. Bottom of hills, rocky soils, plots surrounded by garrigue and woods.
Parcels: Grand Champ and Le Puits
Grapes: Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan
Yield: 30 to 35 hl/ha
Vinification: Partial destemming, long fermentation in concrete tanks, very light filtration before bottling.
Aging: 12 months in Burgundy oak barrels
Storage potential: At least 10 years.
Notes: The wine has a warm and balanced aroma with notes of pepper, licorice, and coffee, and a beautiful minerality that becomes more prominent as it is opened. On the palate, it is fruity and round with fine and smooth tannins and a well-balanced flavor.
91
2018
JS
90
2020
JD
Bardi d’Alquier "La Maison Jaune"
The "La Maison Jaune" cuvee is a highly celebrated wine of the winery, renowned for its complexity and elegance. The wine is a perfect candidate for aging. The vines are located south and surrounded by garrigue, an abundance of green oaks, and almond trees. The Grenache vines, some of which are over 60 years old, thrive on the Charlot plot. The name of this wine, "La Maison Jaune", is a nod to the yellow color of Gilbert Alquier's family home in Faugères.
Appellation: AOP Faugères Rouge
Terroir: On hills, 100% gray schist soils, South exposure
Parcels: Charlot, La Capitelle, Petit Bois
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan
Yield: 20 to 25 hl/ha
Vinification: Partial destemming, cold maceration, long fermentation
Aging: 15 months in 20hl casks and Burgundy barrels
Storage potential: At least 10 years
Notes: The aroma is delicate with hints of black fruits like cherry, blackberry and plum, spices like licorice, garrigue or thyme, leather and smoky notes of cocoa. On the palate, it has a silky texture, lively and precise flavor that is refined with juicy fruits and spices, balanced with a beautiful freshness, melted tannins and a long and savory finish.
93
2018
JS
91
2019
JS
Bardi d’Alquier "Les Bastides d’Alquier"
The "Les Bastides d'Alquier" cuvee is a highly renowned wine that exudes a potent and assertive aroma, coupled with a rich and luxurious bouquet. Its name, "Les Bastides," is derived from its plot of old Syrah vines, grown in a magical terroir surrounded by woods and garrigue, where mint, rockrose, arbutus, broom, and green oaks thrive. These ancient Syrah vines were planted in the 1960s by the Alquier family using massal selection from the Rhône Valley and thrive on the schist soil.
Appellation: AOP Faugères Rouge
Terroir: Highs and slopes of hills, south-facing valleys, schist soils
Parcels: La Bastide, Mas Bleu, Les Combes
Grape varieties: Old Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre
Yield: 20 to 25 hl/ha
Vinification: partial destemming, cold maceration, long fermentation.
Aging: 18 months in 20hl oak casks and Burgundy barrels.
Aging potential: 15 years and over
Notes: The cuvée "Les Bastides d'Alquier" is a wine that has a rich aroma and a smooth flavor. On the nose, it has notes of dark fruits, toasting, rockrose and cinnamon. Over time, the wine will develop very subtle tertiary aromas, making it even more complex. On the palate, it has a round and silky feel with fine and smooth tannins, a perfect balance of licorice and smoky notes from the schist. This wine has a very long finish that reveals the garrigue that surrounds the vineyards.
92
2018
RVF
91
2019
JS
Bardi d’Alquier "Les Grandes Bastides d'Alquier"
The "Les Grandes Bastides d'Alquier" cuvée is the flagship wine of the winery. It is made using grapes from particularly exceptional vintages of our terroir (2010, 2012, 2016, and 2017), and is the focus of all our efforts to achieve excellence. This includes harvesting the grapes at night when they are at peak ripeness, selecting only the best berries, using cold maceration and a long fermentation process, and other techniques that contribute to creating a wine that is exceptionally balanced and elegant. The production of this cuvée is limited to around 2000 bottles. The 2016 vintage received strong recognition and was allocated exclusively to the Joel Robuchon selection.
Appellation: AOP Faugères Rouge
Terroir: Altitude 350m, high south facing hills, hard schists
Parcels: Les Combes and Mas Bleu
Grapes: Old Syrahs, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre
Yield: less than 20 hl/ha Winemaking : Partial destemming, cold maceration, long fermentation.
Aging: 24 months in Burgundy barrels, half of them new.
Aging potential: 15 years and more, dedicated aging cuvée.
Notes: The nose of this wine is complex and intense, with aromas of cand black fruits, such as morello cherry and blackberry, as well as hints of spices, garrigue, orange zest, menthol, and leather. The palate is deep, precise, and refined, with a generous texture on juicy fruit. The balance between power and smoothness is very beautiful, and the tannins are round, leading to a persistent and sapid finish.
92
2012
RP
93
2012
JD
