Clos des Nines

At the end of the 90s, Isabelle Mangeart settled in the Languedoc seduced by its strong identity, history, landscapes, and wine culture.  After enrolling in a Viticulture & Oenology course in Montpellier, she gained experience working alongside vine-growers and winemakers. Isabelle now owns 8 hectares of vines surrounded by dry stone walls and nestled on hills near Montpellier. Certified organic since 2013, only organic compost and no chemicals are used. Red grape varieties are planted on clay-limestone soils which preserve the acidity of the grapes. White grapes grow on silty-sandy soils which allow good water drainage. Read more.

The People

Isabelle Mangeart and her family settled in the Languedoc region inspired by the potential of the land. In the late 90s, she enrolled in a Viticulture-Oenology training course in Montpellier fascinated by the profession of winegrower and the magic of winemaking. Through hands-on experience and mentorship from experienced winegrowers, Isabelle learned the craft of viticulture and the work on the winery.

She and her husband Christian Marbler found the perfect place on the Collines de la Moure. They named Clos des Nines after their three daughters meaning “The Vineyard of the Daughters” in the old ‘langue d’Oc’ – a dialect of the region.

The adventure of Clos des Nines began in 2002 with the first pruning season. Over the years, the owner has focused on restructuring the estate, implementing environmentally-conscious farming methods, optimizing photosynthesis through trellising, and introducing new grape varieties. Also, she abandoned the previous chemical practices of the estate and has since adopted methods that respect the environment.

 

The Vineyards

The Domaine Clos des Nines encompasses a 10-hectare estate, surrounded by traditional dry stone walls and characterized by the iconic “capitelle” structures found throughout Languedoc. The property features 8 hectares of vines and 2 hectares of olive trees, nestled in the midst of the garrigue scrubland on the Collines de la Moure, between Montpellier and Sète. The terroir, classified as AOP Languedoc and Grès de Montpellier, offers a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea and the volcanic silhouette of Mont Saint Clair de Sète.

The vineyards of Clos des Nines are located on a Kimmeridgian Basin, characterized by soils dotted with fossilized oysters and limestone pebbles. The clay-limestone soils of the red grape varieties preserve the grapes’ potential acidity, while the loamy-sandy soils of the white grape varieties promote good drainage. Located at an altitude of 70m and along a windy corridor, the terroir offers ideal conditions for producing wines of great finesse.

The Wines

WHITE
2020 Obladie Clos des Nines

REDS
2021 Cinso Loco Clos des Nines

2020 Le Mour Clos des Nines

2020 l’Orée Clos des Nines

2019 O du Clos Clos des Nines

Sustainability

Sustainability is of the utmost importance at Clos des Nines. All wines are certified in organic farming (FR-BIO-01).

Clos des Nines prioritize a living soil, which is amended with organic compost every fall and tilled only as necessary. They do not use synthetic products. The preservation of biodiversity is also integral to their practices, as the estate is naturally surrounded by low walls, wild hedges and scrubland, providing a natural habitat for local fauna. The manual harvest, which lasts 5 to 6 weeks, is done in the morning to preserve the freshness of the berries. In the cellar, they limit the use of sulphites and work to reveal the aromas of each grape variety and the character of our terroir, ensuring our wines are protected and stable over time.