Aurélien Petit – Monsieur Petit
Montpeyroux - Languedoc
Aurélien Petit started making wine in 2012 with two small parcels of vines just outside Montpeyroux. One parcel of 2.5 hectares is planted with vines between 20 and 50 years old. This parcel of Syrah, Carignan and Chenin Blanc was abandoned when he started the domaine. The second parcel of 2 hectares is a mix of soil types and vines – red clay, yellow clay and pebbly limestone plated with Mourvedre, Grenache and Carignan. For us, Aurélien's wines encapsulate the climate and terroir of the Hérault.
Wines from Aurélien Petit
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Grenache Blanc
Style: Orange
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 13%
Notes: A blend of Chardonnay from 2023 and Grenache Blanc from 2025; both harvested from neighbours in the Hérault. Both macerated for a few days and with a bit of barrel ageing. This is a very easygoing orange with subtle aromatics, lovely peach-like qualities and a herbal, green edge.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Cinsault, Grenache Noir
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 12%
Notes: Equal parts of both grapes – the cinsault brings perfume, fruit and minerality, while the grenache adds structure and fine tannin. All fruit is destemmed and macerates gently together for 3 days before aging in old barrels. Highly drinkable, this goes down easily.
Producer: Monsieur Pétit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: 40% Cinsault, 40% Syrah, 10% Grenache Noir, 10% Carignan
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A return of and old favourite. Herbaceous and wild from the Cinsault, balanced by warm fruit and tannin.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Carignan
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc: 12.5%
Notes: The fruit comes from mature 40 to 50 year-old carignan vines; the grapes are destemmed and macerate for 10 days to draw out some spice, tannin and to give structure. Fruit-forward, but with a touch of briny olives on the finish.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Syrah
Style: Red
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 13%
Notes: A supple and lithe take on southern syrah from Aurélien. This has spice and grip, but feels lifted and fresh from the mixed vinification: one part is macerated for 2 days, and the other for 2 weeks. Delicious.
Producer: Monsieur Pétit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: 70% Syrah, 30% Carignan
Style: Red
Alc: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: The only red wine that Aurélien made in 2018 after losing most of the harvest. A mix of maceration lengths, then blended and aged in old barrels for about a year. Despite the hard vintage this is a delightful wine; medium bodied with warm sunny fruit and a zippy freshness.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Chenin Blanc
Style: White
Alc.: 12.5%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: A brief 2-3 day maceration on the skins, then fermented and aged on the lees. This has a gentle smokey nose – with big lush stone fruit notes on the palate leading to a lingering, saline finish! Incredibly drinkable with enough acidity… this will be fantastic with some grilled turbot.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: 50% Chenin Blanc, 50% Clairette
Style: White / Orange
Alc: 13%
Size: 75cl bottle
Notes: It has been a while, but this new iteration from Aurelién is just outstanding. This year both grapes are macerated for 2 days, and the resulting wine is aged 1 year in old barrels. Floral and peppery on the nose, this has notes of greengage, lemon compote with a long, salty finish – incredibly tasty.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: Honey
Style: Sparkling Mead
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 10%
Notes: A wonderfully fresh and drinkable mead – this is lifted, floral, with a pleasantly gentle sweetness and a lick of acidity. Great as an aperitif, or with a board of goat and sheep cheeses!
Mead that Aurélien makes with Provençal lavender honey from the Plateau de Valensole. Spring water is added to dilute the honey, and a touch of white grape must is added.
Producer: Monsieur Petit
Region: Languedoc, France
Grapes: 90% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan
Style: Pink
Size: 75cl bottle
Alc.: 11.5%
Notes: This is possibly the lightest and most lifted iteration of Bagatelle from Mr. Petit! A herbal nose with notes of red plums, sweet tomatoes, and a hint of spice. Yum.