“My grandfather remembers that his grandfather was already a winegrower.” Sébastien Danjou evokes this landmark to show that the Danjou-Banessy estate is a family affair. The estate, entirely located in Espira-de-l’Agly, extends over 40 hectares, including 20 hectares of vines. A smaller area than that of the ancestors by choice of the two brothers.
If all the plots are on the territory of Espira, they are nonetheless rich in terroirs, which their location at the end of the Agly valley allows. Clay, black shales, limestone, clay-limestone, basaltic rocks, the Danjou brothers’ playground is varied. “We justify the existence of each cuvée by the soil”, describes Sébastien. Result sometimes 12 cuvées per year.
The vines are managed organically or even agroecologically with endemic grape varieties: Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Muscat, Macabeu. The only exception is Syrah. From it are drawn reds, whites and sometimes dry or sweet rancio when the year is right for it. No rosé, “it’s not a niche that interests us”.
Sébastien and Benoit Danjou, like many other winegrowers, will be present at the Salon des Indigènes on May 15 and 16, an event of which France Bleu Roussillon is a partner. All the information by following this link.
They will have a large part of their cuvées tasted there, but will not sell. The Danjou-Banessy estate does not sell directly. “We don’t want to take the job of wine merchants we trust”confides Sébastien.