List of products by brand DOMAINE LA TOUR PENEDESSES

Set on the schist-covered hillsides of Faugères in the Hérault, Domaine la Tour Penedesses farms 40 hectares under certified organic agriculture across a remarkable mosaic of schist, acid clay, sandstone and volcanic basalt. Vines documented here since the sixteenth century have passed through more than eleven generations before Alexandre Fouque — a trained oenologist with experience in Champagne, Burgundy and California — took over the estate in 2000. At Halles Quercamps, we have selected this estate for the rigour of its organic viticulture, the exceptional diversity of its soils, and the precision with which its red, white and rosé wines express the mineral character of the Faugères appellation. For those seeking Languedoc in its most honest form, this is a reference address.

Domaine la Tour Penedesses represents Faugères at its most compelling: ancient vines rooted in schist and volcanic basalt, a history stretching back to the sixteenth century, and 40 hectares farmed with genuine organic conviction in the heart of the Hérault.

A domaine woven into the history of Faugères

The vines of Domaine la Tour Penedesses have been documented on the commune of Faugères since the sixteenth century — a continuity that is rare even by the standards of the Languedoc. More than eleven successive generations tended these hillsides before Alexandre Fouque acquired the estate in 2000. His background is anything but provincial: trained as an oenologist in Champagne, he subsequently gained experience in Burgundy and California before settling in the Hérault. That breadth of perspective informs everything at the estate today, from canopy management to the precision of the élevage, without ever compromising the deep-rooted identity of the appellation.

Terroir: a rare convergence of soils

What distinguishes this estate within Faugères is the exceptional diversity of its soils. Across 40 hectares, the vineyards sit on a mosaic of schist, acid clay, sandstone and volcanic basalt — a combination that is almost without parallel in the appellation. More than 80% of the vines grow on slopes, with multiple aspects ensuring a natural complexity of ripening across the range. Yields are deliberately controlled, ranging from 15 to 45 hl/ha depending on the parcel and the vintage, a discipline that underpins the concentration and mineral definition the estate is known for.

Organic farming: a commitment, not a label

Domaine la Tour Penedesses holds full certification in organic agriculture (agriculture biologique). For Alexandre Fouque, this is not a marketing position but a logical extension of working with soils of such character and age. The estate cultivates Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault for its red and rosé wines, with Vermentino providing the aromatic backbone of the whites — a grape variety well suited to the mineral freshness that Faugères can deliver at altitude.

The wine range: red, white and rosé from Faugères

The estate produces a coherent range across all three colours, each reflecting a distinct facet of the Faugères terroir:

Red wines: built on Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan, these are structured, mineral-driven wines with the garrigue character and dark fruit that define the appellation at its best.
Rosé wines: fresh and precise, drawing on Cinsault and Grenache, with the schist soils lending a characteristic salinity and length.
White wines: produced from Vermentino, these are aromatic and mineral, an increasingly compelling expression of what Faugères blanc can achieve.

Why we have selected Domaine la Tour Penedesses

We list Domaine la Tour Penedesses because it embodies what we look for in a Languedoc estate: a genuine sense of place, rigorous organic farming, and a winemaker with the technical range to translate exceptional raw material into wines of real precision. The combination of ancient vines, volcanic and schistous soils, and Alexandre Fouque's cross-regional experience produces a range that is both authentically of Faugères and consistently well-crafted. We recommend these wines to confirmed amateurs of the southern Rhône and Languedoc who are ready to explore the mineral, cooler-climate register that Faugères delivers at its best. At the table, the reds pair beautifully with slow-roasted lamb, aged hard cheeses and dishes built around wild mushrooms; the whites are a natural companion to grilled fish and fresh goat's cheese from the Hérault.