In a small private cellar, Gabriel Portal elaborates its wines to offer the pleasure of discovering a terroir, as well as a know-how that has been perpetuated for seven generations.
The Domaine du Pountil is located in Bagnoles, in the Minervois, at the foot of the Montagne Noire.
The property extends over 10 hectares of vines in the Minervois and Vin de Pays appellations.
The grape varieties are Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
All the products are made with respect for the environment, using natural methods for the vineyard management and the elaboration of the wines.
A unique concept! The " l'Enfort " cuvée is matured for 11 months in amphoras, in the Giant Abyss of Cabrespine, an exceptional natural site, with optimal climatic conditions for maturing, a constant temperature of 14°C, and a humidity level of 90% minimum.
Gabriel Portal explains: "My desire was to distance myself from more conventional structures, so as not to produce standardized wines. Each cuvée expresses passion, know-how and the fruit of years of work. This allowed me in 2016 to launch my new range of wines under the entity of Domaine Le Clos d'Aimé. »
The history of the oak emblem
Aimé Portal was taken prisoner during World War II by the Germans on June 21, 1940. In 1942, he was assigned as a forced laborer in Germany.
In the lower part of a field, two burdaines were growing in an anarchic way that Aimé had to cut during the winter of 1943/44. Under these two shrubs grew a young oak tree which was then two centimeters thick and almost one meter high.
Aimé asked the family who owned the property to keep this oak tree as a symbol of peace and reconciliation between the French and the Germans. The young oak was therefore saved and tied to a tutor. During the last decades it continued to grow and finally reached maturity, its top is imposing and superb.
Today, the oak is more than a tree, it is a symbol of peace.
The Clos d'Aimé
7, rue du Pountil
11600 Cars
Tel: 04 68 10 95 23 and 06 15 38 63 77
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