Domaine Belles Courbes

Domaine Belles Courbes: Tradition and Excellence

In 2015, Jacques and Mireille Tournat acquired Domaine Belles Courbes from Jean-Benoît Pelletier, a generous epicurean who infused the vineyard with a unique character based on traditional techniques. Jacques Tournat, an oenologist from the University of Bordeaux, continues the legacy of his predecessor, Jean-Benoît Pelletier (who remained the estate manager for another five years), with a focus on producing high-quality wines. Mireille, a doctor and mother of two young children, occasionally assists by managing the commercial side of the business.

Innovation and Environmental Respect

In just two years, Jacques Tournat transformed the rosé winemaking process by introducing new practices, such as handpicking the grapes and placing them in refrigerated crates, enhancing the wines' freshness. His arrival also marked the creation of two new wines: the "Marine" rosé, aged in oak barrels, and the "Carignan," a single-varietal red wine made entirely from Carignan grapes.

Covering 12 hectares in the heart of the AOP St Chinian, the vineyard lies on the foothills of the Cévennes and the Montagne Noire (around 250 meters above sea level), just 7 kilometers from the village of Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit, north of Béziers. The name Domaine Belles Courbes comes from its vineyard's terraced slopes, designed to prevent soil erosion and ensure maximum sunlight exposure. The terroir, mainly composed of schist soils, enhances the concentration of aromas and sugar in the grapes.

At 55 years old, the vines produce concentrated red wines with spicy notes and complex, round rosés. All the wines from Domaine Belles Courbes have been awarded by the Hachette Wine Guide, with the exception of the "Rosé Marine" and "L’Absolue" cuvées.

Jacques Tournat is committed to respecting the environment, stating, "All our vines are cultivated using sustainable farming methods: we do not use herbicides or insecticides, and we do not plow. We also ensure the preservation of biodiversity in our natural surroundings, surrounded by hills, pine trees, white oaks, flowering shrubs, and aromatic herbs."