Château de Brau

This charming, unpretentious and quite sizeable (40ha) estate is owned by Gabriel and Wenny Tari and farmed organically; certified back in 1989 with the youngest Syrah and Pinot Noir now being converted over. It's split roughly into two big chunks - one around the winery and château, the other just off in the distance on rolling slopes at slightly higher altitude - with natural borders formed by the river to the south and wilder countryside to the north. Unusually, they have 15 different varieties planted, mostly red including oddities such as Fer Servadou (from the southwest) and Egiodola, an obscure crossing of Fer and Abourriou. Their Cabardès red blends are particularly impressive, although so is the Pinot Noir (rare to find such a good example in the south) and other varietal wines like Cabernet Franc and Merlot