Portrait / Benjamin Taillandier, made-to-measure minervois
Healthy soils, healthy grapes, that's what Benjamin Taillandier wanted. In 2007, he took the plunge and bought 6 hectares in Caunes-Minervois. Today, he has a little more than double the surface area and concocts vintages for immediate pleasure.
The son of a "general practitioner-acupuncturist", Benjamin Taillandier, does not initially have any particular connection with the wine world. It is probably because of the taste of the product, of the good product that he is seduced. By tasting the wines of Maxime Magnon, Jo Landron... the idea taps him. BTS of Viti-Oeno in 2002, Bachelor of Law and Management in 2003, Benjamin Taillandier then left to work in a few domains. For one year, he studied with Jean-Baptiste Senat, who is and will remain his mentor, then left for four years to work at Château in Cransac (Fronton) as head oenologist. He then sees what he doesn't want to do, a lot of chemistry, harvesting machines. In 2007, he flees on a whim - and on impulse - to buy 6 hectares of old Carignan and Syrah in Caunes-Minervois, in the middle of the garrigue, to run the vineyard as he sees fit: hand-picking, few inputs in the winemaking process. 27 years on the counter and alone with his convictions. Little by little the Winery is growing (13 hectares today) and has been certified organic since 2011.
Benjamin Taillandier is a brave, hard-working, and very jovial guy. The wines he makes are in his image, generous, cheerful, fruity, full of life and envy. Wines that can be shared, that call out to friends, to good times. To your health!
Fabien Jouve (Mas del Périé) and Benjamin Taillandier (right)
ALL BENJAMIN TAILLANDIER WINES ARE HERE