2015 Capitelles des Fermes Les Muriers Pays D'Oc 750 ml

A Blind Tasting Surprise: Languedoc’s Ultimate Red

Discovering the Capitelles des Fermes Les Mûriers wasn’t our most elegant moment: after one sip of this decadent French red—which exploded with layers of wild berries, fresh red roses, and lilacs—we abandoned our the polite chit-chat and began elbowing our way through the Napa house party where we accidentally discovered this Southern French stunner. As soon as we hunted down the guest responsible for Les Mûriers, we bought every bottle on US shores on the spot.

Today, we’re still grinning from ear to ear over this red. From a special slice of France’s sunny Languedoc region, which lies in the shadow of the Pyrenees, the Les Mûriers is a showstopping red blend, built to please a crowd and a natural choice for anyone who enjoys Meritage blends or easy-drinking Côtes du Rhône reds.

Sculpted from four varieties gently nurtured on lilting slopes atop limestone soils, this glowing red shows a layered expression of ripe berries, cherries, and fresh florals, balanced by delicate tannins, that re-affirms the Pays d’Oc subregion’s reputation for producing gems that over-deliver on quality. We have it for $12.99—a remarkable price for a wine of this caliber.

When we found out Capitelles de Fermes came from Pays d’Oc—specifically from elevated vines planted atop limestone soil—its elegant structure and palate brightness made perfect sense. When the buyer shared the price, we really had no other choice but to snap up every bottle.

Proprietor Kevin Tessieux is a busy man, juggling estates in Burgundy and Southern France. But Capitelles des Fermes is where his passion lies: in this special, sunny slice of the Languedoc, his vines are protected by small stone walls—a tactic that’s far more than cute landscaping. The walls protect the vines and reduce heat stress when the mercury rises, helping vines reap the full cooling benefits of their elevation and the chilly breezes that cascade into the vineyards from the snow-capped Pyrenees.

To make the 2015 Capitelles des Fermes Les Mûriers Pays d’Oc, Tessieux uses gravity to gently press the Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc in this blend. The process allows the characteristics of each variety to share the spotlight, resulting in a sophisticated red wine that’s complex, yet approachable, and ready for release after just nine months of aging. It’s everything we search for in red blends, and the value price is a bonus.