A delightful surprise at the end of a long, hot tasting trip, when we thought we'd found enough new wines for the list. Set in the hinterland of the Languedoc, north west of Nimes and in the shadow of the Cevennes mountains, this was a stretch of the South we had not traversed before - gently rolling landscape, a little wild with patches of moorland, interspersed with vineyards. Puechredon is in reality a small hamlet surrounded by vines, now run by the energetic Cyril Cuche. There is little evidence of gleaming stainless steel here, with wines being vinified and matured in old-fashioned cement vats, lined with enamel or resin. Recently oak barrels have been introduced for maturing some of the special cuvées. It all had a slightly rustic feel - until we tasted the wines.. With just one exception (the Sauvignon Blanc 2000) the wines were well-made, full of wonderful fruit, and clearly made with tremendous skill. The "terroir" seems to provide more mineral extract and fruit concenttration than the land nearer to the coast. The landscape around the domaine offers a variety of soils and aspects, so that Cyril can select the most appropriate plot for each grape variety. There is a charming tasting room (caveau) on the ground floor of the main house, which offers a fine welcome to visitors to the domaine.

Cyril Cuche, winemaker