Ledogar 'Le Mariole' 2018

Xavier Ledogar has worked this 22 hectare domain since he was 12 years old and took complete control over it in 1997, changing its name from Domaine Grand Lauze to Domaine Ledogar. The vineyards here, in the Boutenac terroir near Carcassonne, are spread around the village of Ferrals-les-Corbières. In 1998, one of his first changes Xavier made to the family domain, of which he was of the fourth generation of custodians, was to stop selling the grapes to the local co-op and instead use them to make outstanding wines himself.

Xavier was joined by his brother, Mathieu in 2004, and they rapidly converted the vineyards to abide by biodynamic principles, such as using the lunar calendar and herbal and plant teas as fertilisers. Instead of machinery, horses are used to plough the fields and donkeys keep the weeds in check. Domaine Ledogar was certified organic by Ecocert in 2006.