List of products by brand DOMAINE CAILHOL GAUTRAN

Domaine Cailhol Gautran farms 55 hectares on the limestone plateau of the Haut Minervois, at Aigues-Vives in the Hérault, producing certified organic red, white and rosé wines under the Minervois appellation. The estate's story begins in 1918, when Martin Gautran took on his brother-in-law's vineyard after the latter fell in the Great War. Fourth-generation owners Olivia and Nicolas Gautran took the helm in 2006 and achieved organic certification from the 2020 vintage. At Halles Quercamps, we selected this estate for the rigour of its approach: clay-limestone soils worked with real care, a fine range of southern varieties, and wines that faithfully express the character of the Massif Central foothills. A Minervois of genuine conviction.

Domaine Cailhol Gautran is rooted in Aigues-Vives, in the Hérault, farming 55 hectares of certified organic vines on the limestone plateau of the Haut Minervois, at between 150 and 200 metres altitude on the first foothills of the Massif Central.

A century of family vines in the Minervois

The estate's history is inseparable from the upheaval of the First World War. In 1918, Martin Gautran took over the vineyard of his brother-in-law, who had been killed in action — an act of family continuity that would set the course for the next hundred years. The Gautran family has tended these vines across four generations, each one deepening the estate's ties to this particular corner of the Languedoc-Roussillon. In 2006, Olivia and Nicolas Gautran assumed responsibility for the domaine, bringing with them a clear ambition: to work the land with greater respect and precision, and to let the terroir of the Minervois speak for itself.

Terroir: limestone, altitude and the Massif Central influence

The vineyards of Domaine Cailhol Gautran sit on the Cazelles plateau, a distinctive feature of the Haut Minervois. The soils here are predominantly argilo-calcaire — clay-limestone — which provide both structure and freshness to the wines. At 150 to 200 metres above sea level, the estate benefits from cooler nights than the lower Minervois plain, a thermal amplitude that helps preserve aromatic definition and natural acidity. The grape varieties planted reflect the full breadth of the southern Languedoc palette: Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault for the reds and rosés, alongside Roussanne, Marsanne and Vermentino for the whites.

Organic certification: a commitment confirmed in 2020

When Olivia and Nicolas Gautran took over in 2006, the move towards organic viticulture was already part of their vision. The conversion was carried out progressively and with care, and organic certification was formally obtained from the 2020 vintage. Across all 55 hectares, the estate now operates under certified agriculture biologique, working without synthetic herbicides or pesticides and prioritising the long-term health of the soil. This is not a recent marketing decision but the culmination of nearly two decades of considered work in the vineyard.

The wine range: red, white and rosé Minervois

Red Minervois: built on Syrah, Grenache and Carignan from the clay-limestone plateau, showing the garrigue-inflected depth and structure characteristic of the Haut Minervois.
White Minervois: crafted from Roussanne, Marsanne and Vermentino, with the freshness and aromatic lift that altitude and organic viticulture bring to these southern varieties.
Rosé Minervois: drawn from the estate's Grenache and Cinsault, offering the balance and precision that come from careful work in both vineyard and cellar.

Why we have selected Domaine Cailhol Gautran

We have been drawn to Domaine Cailhol Gautran for several reasons that go beyond the label. First, there is the integrity of the project: a family that has farmed the same land for over a century, and that pursued organic certification not as a commercial gesture but as the logical conclusion of a long-held conviction. Second, the terroir is genuinely distinctive — the Cazelles plateau gives these wines a freshness and mineral edge that sets them apart from much of the Languedoc-Roussillon. Third, the range is admirably coherent across all three colours, making this an estate we can recommend with confidence whether you are looking for a red to lay down, a white for the table, or a rosé for summer drinking.

These wines suit the enthusiast who values provenance and agricultural rigour as much as pleasure in the glass. At the table, the reds pair well with slow-cooked lamb or a well-aged hard cheese; the whites are a natural match for grilled fish or a tapenade-laden spread from the south of France.