# Combarels à la Lumière (2024)

- **Producer:** Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Syrah, Grenache
- **Region:** Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €24
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, plum, raspberry, strawberry, herbaceous, black pepper, liquorice, fennel, smoke, leather, tobacco, dried cranberry, cinnamon, ginger

## About this wine

Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles, founded in 2015 by childhood friends Matthieu Rollin and Nicolas Seffusatti, is a highly sought-after cult label from the Languedoc region of Southern France. Returning to their native land after a successful wine import business in China, they established a 7-hectare estate dedicated to meticulous biodynamic farming and low-intervention winemaking. The Combarels cuvées, 'De l'Ombre' (From the Shade) and 'À la Lumière' (In the Light), poetically represent the same Montpeyroux clay-limestone terroir, with 'À la Lumière' being Syrah-dominant. This specific bottling, 'Combarels à la Lumière 2024', hails from the prestigious high-altitude terroir of Montpeyroux, known for its significant diurnal temperature variations that preserve acidity and complexity. The estate's commitment to ancient genetic diversity and micro-yields from low-vigor vines has quickly earned them global acclaim.

## Interesting facts

- The Combarels cuvées represent a poetic duo of day and night, with 'À la Lumière' embodying solar warmth and radiant energy.
- The estate was founded by childhood friends who previously ran a successful French wine import business in China.
- The wine is deliberately kept un-oaked to highlight pristine fruit without wood interference.
- The high-altitude terroir of Montpeyroux provides significant diurnal temperature variation, crucial for preserving acidity.

## Food pairing

The Syrah and Grenache blend, with its medium-plus body, lively acidity, and fine-grained tannins, is well-suited to richer protein dishes. The prominent red and black fruit notes, coupled with Mediterranean spice and herbaceous undertones from the garrigue, complement roasted meats, game, and stews seasoned with similar herbs. The absence of oak allows the pure fruit and terroir characteristics to shine, making it versatile enough to pair with dishes that have robust flavors but are not overly complex or dominated by heavy sauces.

## Wine making process

The Combarels à la Lumière 2024 is crafted from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, grown on high-altitude clay-limestone soils in Montpeyroux. The grapes are 100% hand-harvested with strict sorting in mid-September. Vinification involves a cold pre-fermentation soak followed by a gentle infusion maceration of 18 to 25 days in small, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve parcel-specific character. The wine is aged for approximately 12 to 15 months exclusively in concrete vats and stainless steel, with zero oak contact, to ensure the pure expression of fruit and terroir. Organic and biodynamic farming philosophies are employed, with no chemical herbicides used.