Jean-Michel Cazes, the owner of Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, had spent many years scouring the Languedoc region in his quest for outstanding terroirs. Until one day he discovered La Livinière, a village at the foot of the Montagne Noire, the birthplace of the finest vineyards in the Minervois.
He purchased two neighbouring estates in 2002 which he combined to make a single 150 hectare domaine, including 60 ha of vineyards and 25 ha of olive groves. With the help of his son Jean-Charles, they chose a name filled with meaning and history: ''l’ostal'', meaning both ''house'' and ''family group'' in the ancient Occitan language. The Domaine de L'Ostal was born…
