Maxime Magnon, St Jacques 2023

Though Burgundian-born and with formative winemaking years spent in Beaujolais, notably with Maurice Lapierre in Morgon, Maxime Magnon did not come from a winemaking or vineyard owning family, and so was free to roam and find his own vinous calling.

In 2002 he fell in love with an 11 hectare parcel of old vine Carignan in the high altitude slopes of the Haute-Corbières region of Languedoc Roussillon and so started his own domaine, handling all the vineyard work by himself and renting his cellar, and ultimately becoming known as a highly respected maverick garagiste and proponent of low-intervention, terroir-driven winemaking in the region.

Magnon was an early advocate of organic and biodynamic farming in the Languedoc, helping shift the region away from heavily extracted, powerful wines toward a more refined and expressive style.

His wines combine the concentration typical of the region with a striking elegance more often associated with Burgundy, Cru Beaujolais, and the Northern Rhône.

His work stands as a compelling example of how the Languedoc—when farmed thoughtfully and handled with restraint—can deliver wines of both depth and remarkable finesse.