A former Australian Ballet dancer finds his way to the Languedoc in France, where he brings lost vineyards back to life. This incredible start of a story that remains unfinished, as Paul makes his way through the international wine world and places himself in the top of wine makers in the Corbières. At the Millésime Bio Fair 2024 in Montpellier, Paul shares with us his passion, drive, and vision for the future.
Over 20 years Paul was a professional dancer with the Rambert Dance Company in London, and even the Australian Ballet. He was visiting a friend in the Languedoc when he was thinking about what was next in his professional career. Thinking that the region was only made up of flatlands and focussed only on mass production, Paul certainly had to change his point of view upon arrival. The diversity of the region, not only in terms of landscape, but also soil types and climates, surprised Paul that there wasn’t more quality wine coming from here. With wine being one of Paul’s first loves, he started doing research into the possibilities of the Languedoc in general and Corbières in specific. Paul decided to return to Australia to study Oenology at the Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
In 2003 Paul started his winemaking career working in three different sub-regions in the Corbières: Corbières Maritime, Haute-Corbières and Vallée de l’Agly. Within these regions Paul found many abandoned vineyards and plots, from back in the day where a general switch was made to the focus on mass-production. Bringing new life to these lost vineyards, the name says it all: “Les Clos Perdus”, the literal translation from the French language. Paul wants every wine to be an expression of the terroir, climate, and vintage, and this across three different regions. During this process the focus lies on a biodynamic and organic approach. Natural ways on keeping the vine healthy are maintained, along with wild yeast fermentation, no or minimum filtration and clarification.
The sub-region of Corbières-Maritime, under great influence of the Mediterranean Sea, features the red wine of Mire la Mer. A muscular blend of the Mediterranean varieties of Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Grenache. Made from older vines, with Carignan going over 100 years old, giving us intense complexity, earthy, spicy, and long lasting, yet fine tannins.
Rising in altitude we reach the sub-region of Haute-Corbières, with beautiful Grenache plantings. Paul’s blend Prioundo made up with Grenache and Cinsault offers elegant fruit and earthy notes.
Going to the Vallee de l’Agly, we find the red and white blends of l’Extrême. The red blend will not only come from a lost vineyard, but will also be produced with a forgotten grape, the Lledoner Pelut. A grape originated from the South of France, but now grown in very small proportions. Research believes that the grape is related to Grenache, resulting in the same level of fruitiness in the wines, however with a fuller body. L’Extrême Rouge contains a small level of Syrah to spice things up. L’Extrême Blanc focusses on Grenache all the way, and that in a blend of Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, and Grenache Blanc. The Gris provides beautiful elegance and combined with the other two Grenache grapes it leads to a fruity, well-balanced end result, with a touch of minerality.
For the rest of Paul’s beautiful wines, I happily refer to his website, www.lesclosperdus.com
I can tell you that the rose made of Mourvèdre is one worth to discover!
Of course, you can always visit the wonderful region of Corbières and the winery of Paul Old, I am pretty sure I will find myself there sometime in the near future.
We wish Paul all the best and look forward to tasting more of his future wines!
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