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"Vincent and Stephanie Boyer’s domaine in Visan originated as a fortified farmhouse, surrounded by old mourvèdre vines and fig and cherry trees, that was built by Templar knights in the middle ages and used as a monastery through the crusades. Vincent took over his father’s winemaking legacy and he and Stephanie, also a trained oenologist, carry forward the domaine with energy, innovation and focus. This wine has a great tangy acid, red fruits, earthy tones and… shock! ripe fig.

The domain was started in 1988 when Vincent’s father Bernard, an agricultural engineer, achieved his life-long dream of purchasing his own estate. Where the winery stands today, in the shadow of the impressive Chateau de Suze-la-Rousse, was a farm owned by Vincent’s mother’s family. In fact, his grandfather was the official farmer for the chateau, linking the Boyers even more closely with the history of their land. The 100 ha of vines that comprise the domain are planted primarily in Visan and Suze-la-Rousse, the oldest of which are 80 year old carignan which provide fruit for the Figue rouge.

In the cellar, Vincent’s methods are a combination of modern precision and old-school rusticity. The wines are made in concrete and stainless steel to preserve freshness and purity of fruit, and he destems 100% in order to keep the tannins soft and easy. He also runs his bottling line off the still functioning engine of an extremely old tractor that is parked out back. This balance between the new and the old permeates everything at Domaine de la Bastide. Vincent and his wife Stephanie, who is also a trained wine maker, continue renovating their ancient home while maintaining details such as the narrow windows that Templar knights used to shoot arrows through at invaders. And the human relationship to the wine is important to Vincent. I have to touch every tank before I leave the cellar at the end of the day, he tells me. And sometimes I even sing a little to the vines." -Importer