André Iché is an icon.

In 1969, he took control of his family’s estate, Chateau d’Oupia, in the small village of Oupia in what we now know as the winemaking region of Minervois. Located in the western part of Languedoc, Chateau d’Oupia was originally built in the 13th century and was purchased by the family in 1860. It was typical of the wine producing estates of the area, focused on growing large crops that were vinified and sold by volume to the local cooperative.

Almost immediately, André started renovating the vineyards, choosing higher quality cultivars and resurrecting abandoned vineyards of ancient Carignan vines, many over 100 years old. By the time a vine reaches 100 years old, it will only produce a few bunches of grapes, however those few bunches will be packed with aroma and flavor. In a quantity minded region like Languedoc in the 1950s and 1960s, these vines would have been viewed as economically undesirable. To a visionary like André Iché, they were the key to showing the world the quality of wine that could be made in this little corner of southern France.

As he shifted the estates direction towards making quality wines, he soon left the local wine cooperative and was one of the very first growers in the area to produce and bottle wine under his own label. He renovated and expanded the estate’s cellar and bought one of the first modern bottling machines in the area. He was also one of the first growers to plant Syrah here.

In his never-ending quest to show the world that Languedoc could produce wines of quality, he championed the establishment of the Minervois AOC in 1973. Up until that point, wines of the area could only be labeled as Vin d’Table, simple table wine. Creating the AOC gave wines of the area credibility and today Minervois is one of the best known wines of Languedoc.

While his contribution to the status and reputation of quality wines from Languedoc cannot be overstated, André Iché was also a pioneer in low intervention winemaking. He was one of the first in the area to eschew chemicals in the vineyard, instead choosing to let the land speak for itself. He also kept things simple in the cellar, introducing whole cluster carbonic maceration which highlighted the vibrant expression of fruit and energy in the grapes and made the addition of chemical additives and heavy oak aging unnecessary.

Finally, he was firm in his belief that honest, responsibly made wines of quality should be accessible to everyone. So to that end, with the help of importers Joe Dressner and Denyse Louis of Louis-Dressner Selections, he created Les Heretiques, a super affordable Carignan based red blend that set the par for what this often-overlooked region can produce. So much so, that even Robert Parker, the most influential wine critic of his day, felt compelled to comment on.

Sadly, André Iché passed away on November 24, 2007.  His legacy was carried on by his daughter Marie-Pierre Iché, until she finally retired and sold the domaine about two years ago.  Les Hérétiques is still being produced and remains the delicious, value-driven wine that I have loved for many years.

The 2024 Château d'Oupia "Les Hérétiques" is a blend of mostly old vine Carignan and Syrah, with smaller amounts of Grenache and Cinsault. On the nose, it shows black cherry, dark berries, plum and black currant with soft notes of dried herbs, earth and a subtle touch of anise. You can also feel a little of the alcohol come across as heat. On the palate, it’s jammy up front, juicy and medium-bodied with a nice touch of spice on the finish. A total winner! Expect to see this wine in the mid teens. Ansley Wine Merchants sells it for $15.99.