Château HAUT LIGNIERES, which was taken over in 2007 by Jérôme RATEAU, a young oenologist who trained at the faculty in Bordeaux, possesses 15 hectares of vineyards, exclusively in the Faugères appellation. There is one single block of vineyards, planted on the Cabrerolles hills, north of Béziers, at over 300 metres altitude, and consisting mainly of 40 year old vines but with one hectare of old Carignan of over 70 years of age. The vineyards face fully south overlooking the Béziers valley all the way to the sea. Some vines are planted along the land's contour lines, there by curbing gully erosion and retaining water, so rare in this region in summer. Harvesting is carried out by hand and the grapes are transported in crates to preserve their quality. Château Haut Lignières' wines are partly aged in barrels in a cellar housed in a former 19th century coaching inn. 5 grape varieties, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault go into the blends.