{"id":569,"date":"2023-02-24T15:50:47","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/?page_id=569"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:13:17","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:13:17","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='flex_column av-7mbft-f44b52790a0caaac75a569b069864983 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lehbc95a-6ac55e385668717682728310813e1292\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-lehbc95a-6ac55e385668717682728310813e1292{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-lehbc95a-6ac55e385668717682728310813e1292 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lehbc95a-6ac55e385668717682728310813e1292 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-lehbc95a-6ac55e385668717682728310813e1292 av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_toggle_container  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >All your questions answered<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6\">\n#top .togglecontainer.av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6 p.toggler{\nfont-size:14px;\ncolor:#666666;\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#b3d5cd;\n}\n#top .togglecontainer.av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6 p.toggler .toggle_icon{\ncolor:#b3d5cd;\nborder-color:#b3d5cd;\n}\n#top .togglecontainer.av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6 p.toggler .toggle_icon > span{\ncolor:#b3d5cd;\nborder-color:#b3d5cd;\n}\n#top .togglecontainer.av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6 .toggle_wrap .toggle_content{\ncolor:#666666;\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#b3d5cd;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='togglecontainer av-lehbj51k-40c3b273c8bf184aa3607bcdd0f5ebc6 av-elegant-toggle  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last  toggle_close_all' >\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbfncv-4fdca4a22fb97906dcb663134fc18bc1'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-1' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-1'>Why the Sheep?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-1' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>In the 13th century, the Minervois region and the nearby Game of Thrones-like castle-town of Carcassonne were at the heart of a bloody conflict with the Catholic church in Rome. The French had formed a breakaway sect called the Cathars whose revolutionary beliefs included the then-unacceptable notion that women were equal to men, that the church shouldn\u2019t accumulate wealth and that there should be no rich bishops and archbishops. All humans, the Cathars believed, were God\u2019s sheep, and the earthily responsibility for their care was in the hands of elders who wore black cloaks and were called \u2018perfects\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>There was a clear association between the Cathars who were persecuted for thinking differently, and the unconventional style of the Grand Noir wines. By standing apart from the herd, the Cathars were the black sheep. Gradually, these ideas came together to form the now iconic le Grand Noir label.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbgy3j-b9a8c34230c00ca1cbf7596eadf6c14d'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-2' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-2'>Ok, tell me what makes Le Grand Noir so different from all the rest?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-2' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Each of the wines has a complex character all of its own, that combines the flavours of the terroir \u2013 the combination of soil, slope and microclimate \u2013 where the grapes were grown and the blend of varieties. Before Le Grand Noir almost nobody in the region blended Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon; Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre; and Chardonnay and Viognier.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbi0hf-73d09e2e2cba3b7f8a55b35300cf4ce0'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-3' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-3'>Why do you make so many blends?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-3' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>We\u2019re like cooks. All that matters to us is producing wines that taste as good as possible. Some styles of wines benefit from blending grape varieties \u2013 most Bordeaux and Champagnes are blends \u2013 while others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbj3pe-82cb166e143f7443ba7f6b91ccf90674'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-4' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-4'>Do you use oak barrels?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-4' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Oak is like salt, if you can taste it in a dish, the cook has probably added too much. Some wine styles such as our Chardonnay gain from spending a little time in new or young oak barrels, thanks to the subtle vanilla notes they pick up from the wood. Others, such as our refreshing Sauvignon Blanc are better without it. Whatever the wine, however, we never want the oak to overshadow the natural flavours of the wine.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbq8en-90e1df792ce626ed1d5f0936d418289a'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-5' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-5'>What is the background to Le Grand Noir \u2013 and why should I be interested?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-5' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Le Grand Noir is what happens when Robert Joseph, an award winning wine critic; Hugh Ryman, a winemaker with experience across the globe; and a top label-designer called Kevin Shaw get together over a few good bottles and wonder how they might, very, very slightly, change the world. What they wanted to do was create a wine that brought together the classic, complex, food-friendly, flavours of France with the accessibility of the New World.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbrgjc-732470651b8968a113652bbddd1944c4'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-6' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-6'>Where are the wines from?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-6' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>All of le Grand Noir wines come from vineyards in the Minervois region, in Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France. The Romans made wine here \u2013 there\u2019s a 2,000 year-old burial site close to one of our vineyards \u2013 and grapes love the warm sunny climate and the cool breezes from the nearby Mediterranean and the \u2018Black\u2019 mountains. The wonderfully perfumed Viognier which thrives in a warm climate, for example, all comes from the vines growing close to the medieval walled village of Azille. The soil here is marked by gr\u00e9s \u2013 clay-limestone which seems to have a particular affinity with this grape variety. Chardonnay grows well in Azille too, but with his experience of blending wines from different vineyards in Bordeaux, Hugh Ryman prefers to marry it with Chardonnay from other parts of the region, including warm-climate vineyards around the village of Pepieux where the wind from the mountains brings fresh, perfumed flavours.<\/p>\n<p>The fresh Sauvignon Blanc comes from three villages: Rieux-Minervois, Homps, and Aigues Vives. Of these, the little Gallo-Roman village of Homps on the banks of the Canal du Midi is well known to visitors to the region. It has the remains of an old castle, a Romanesque Church and a stream mysteriously called \u2018Double Argent\u2019 \u2013 Double Money. Homps was once renowned for the barrels of local wine that were shipped on the canal to Bordeaux \u2013 in the days before Appellation Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e tightened the rules on what could be sold under that region\u2019s name. The fruitiness of the Homps wine is matched by some zinginess from the grapes grown near Aigues Vives, another old village whose name, \u2018white waters\u2019 in the old local language, refers to the springs in the nearby hills.<\/p>\n<p>The intensely blackcurranty Cabernet Sauvignon also comes from the latter two villages as well as Puicheric and the hilly little commune of Felines- Minervois. For the spicy, berryish Syrah, Ryman and the Jean d\u2019Alibert team also went to Homps, as well as la Livin\u00e8re in the hills and another canal-side village, Puicheric. La Livini\u00e8re, which is also one of the sources of le Petit Noir Grenache has been recognized as one of the finest regions in the region by being given its own \u2018grand cru\u2019 designation.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside the Grenache grapes from la Livini\u00e8re, are ones grown around Caunes, another lovely village, with narrow winding streets, an old abbey and nearby quarries whose pink marble was used to build the Paris Opera House. Caunes is a particularly popular place for Hugh Ryman, Robert Joseph and the Jean d\u2019Alibert winemaking team, thanks largely to the brilliant food served in the picturesque courtyard of the Hotel d\u2019Alibert by its art-loving owner Frederick (Fred) Guiraud.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbsgb7-feca449c2696368f49236f982dcb57f2'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-7' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-7'> Why do some wines have screwcaps?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-7' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Like almost all of the producers of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in New Zealand, Riesling in Australia, we really like the freshness that you get in wines sealed with screwcaps.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbtbn4-e3b68a57d9c1a282329463e8c7b35b14'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-8' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-8'> Who actually grows the grapes and makes the wine?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-8' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Le Grand Noir would not exist if it were not for the families who lovingly and painstakingly tend their own vines throughout the year, while Eric Lacuve and his winemaking team at Celliers Jean d\u2019Alibert are some of the best in France. Unusually open-minded and youthful \u2013 the average age is just 40 \u2013 they also have an intense love and respect for the traditions of their region.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbu91j-211890637cad057945e37a264a94c21b'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-9' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-9'>How green is the sheep?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-9' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The Celliers Jean d\u2019Alibert has introducing a sustainability programme to minimise the use of pesticides and other vineyard treatments, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of both vineyard and winery. The weight of the Le Grand Noir bottles was recently reduced as part of this programme.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbvn0c-203c049ede7039af6790611962a72dc3'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-10' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-10'> How long should I keep these wines before opening?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-10' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>We recommend waiting until you get the bottles home. They\u2019re ready to enjoy as soon as they leave our cellars, so you don\u2019t have to lock them away in yours \u2013 or your wine rack if, like most normal human beings, you don\u2019t happen to have a cellar. All the wines in the Le Grand Noir range will be great to drink for at least a couple of years after the harvest (thanks in part to those screwcaps which do a great job of keeping the wine fresh), but we like drinking them young.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbwdq8-f095d6b4d836a90c80fd7b2ec9e87495'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-11' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-11'>What food would you recommend I drink them with?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-11' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>We love drinking all the Le Grand Noir by themselves \u2013 but the fact that we don\u2019t leave the wine in new oak barrels for too long means that they are also ideal to enjoy with all sorts of food. We\u2019d opt for the Cabernet-Shiraz with fuller flavoured meat dishes, while the Pinot Noir is perfect with a wide range of lighter dishes. It can even go well with fish, like Salmon and Tuna. Drink the Chardonnay with almost anything you\u2019re eating, but in particular try it with a subtly spicy Thai, Vietnamese or Chinese dish. The Viognier in the blend will add a touch of magic to the pairing\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbx8ir-c8334239f4686b3184f5c594b90f9847'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-12' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-12'>Are these wines ok for vegans?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-12' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Yes, no animal products are used in their production.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehby9tb-081884e19623ba013226ea4ce85acc5f'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-13' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-13'>Do sheep like wine?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-13' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>To be honest, most of them have yet to develop a taste for it. And very few of them have mastered the art of using a corkscrew or even unscrewing a bottle. But we haven\u2019t given up\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class='av_toggle_section av-lehbz7ny-cf6be2b3f5cc21504dad25384505c53a'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  ><p data-fake-id='#toggle-id-14' class='toggler   av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"headline\"  role='tab' tabindex='0' aria-controls='toggle-id-14'>Any other questions?<span class=\"toggle_icon\"><span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p><div id='toggle-id-14' class='toggle_wrap  '  ><div class='toggle_content invers-color av-inherit-border-color'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>If there\u2019s anything we haven\u2019t covered \u2013 or if there\u2019s anything else you\u2019d like to talk to us about, we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-569","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=569"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":578,"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/569\/revisions\/578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/markpayton.com\/lgn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}