Costeplane is a well-established and well loved, locally, estate consisting of around 30 hectares of vineyards. The vines, planted an age ago sit in the Jurassic limestone in the lee of some of Frances most spectacular mountain-scapes. Our interest in the wines and the domaine was piqued when we tasted with Loic Manchenc, partner to the owners daughter Francoise, who has been instrumental in turning the estate to demeter certified Biodynamic practices. He works everything by hand, uses only natural yeasts and choses not to fine or filter. The change in the wines is remarkable and slowly this is emerging as a go to winery in the region. 

We have shipped his brilliant Vermentino, which is seamlessly put together from old vine fruit grown on a mixture of clay and limestone. Fermented in stainless steel and bottled after the spring equinox. The rose is a blend of Syrah and Grenache and has a mineral coolness to it, and sappy red fruit. The Merlot, quite widely planted in these parts to give fruit to the Carignan that prevails, is juicy, uplifting and surprisingly vibrant. It is aged in large old oak barrels for 12 months, giving it a touch of spice and complexity.