{"title":"Domaine Les Carmels","description":"\u003cp\u003eElegant Bordeaux is making a comeback. More and more producers are seeking restraint and terroir transparency in their wines, moving away from the flashy, opulent style that got good ratings in the 2000s from critics like Robert Parker. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese producers are also making changes in the vineyards, eschewing chemicals and focusing on sustainability – what’s the point of transparency if the fruit isn’t healthy? Another trend: artisanally-minded producers are going to unsung appellations, seeking out the best sites, and raising the bar for what can be accomplished there. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll of this converges at Les Carmels, a domaine founded by a young couple in AOC Cadillac a little over a decade ago. Their wines – floral, vibrant, soulful, and approachable – exemplify the movement towards elegance and purity we’re talking about. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eContrary to what the name might conjure, Côtes-de-Bordeaux Cadillac is one of Bordeaux’s less glamorous appellations. But there’s actually some great terroir there: a crest of clay and limestone slopes overlooking the Garonne river at Sauternes and Graves. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat’s where Sophie and Yorick Lavaud have 6 hectares of vines – mostly Merlot – surrounded by forest and pasture land. Farming is organic, but they also use biodynamic techniques and preparations. The cellar philosophy is low-intervention, and sulfur additions range from little to none.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/sf.flatiron-wines.com\/collections\/domaine-les-carmels.oembed","provider":"Flatiron SF","version":"1.0","type":"link"}