Laithwaites’ “Find of the Year”

[August 1st, 2025]

“Last time I went to check on the wines it took four hours and a climb the equivalent of scaling the Empire State Building to retrieve one bottle.   So, patience is appreciated on this one, but it’s so worth it.”  Mark Hoddy, Laithwaites Buyer   

Introducing Chasm de Cabrespine, a NEW Minervois 2019 aged in a river 200m below ground – a UK first for wine – that’s arriving at Laithwaites July 2025.   

Mark Hoddy has made, blended, bought and sourced wine for Laithwaites from the South of France (and beyond!) for over 20 years.  He’s made many vinous neighbour friends in this time, including Sylvain Delabre from Domaine Lauran Cabaret - a longtime Laithwaites partner.     

Mark is always looking for something extraordinary for Laithwaites, so when Sylvian, who’s always been a bit of an adventurer, said he’d been aging a wine in the depths of the Earth, Mark was hooked.     

Because this Minervois 2019 has been stored for six years in one of the Languedoc’s most famous caves - the giant Cabrespine Chasm near Carcassonne. Partially in clay amphorae nestled in the upper part of the cave, then partially in an underground river 200m below the surface … accessible only by navigating 80m of ladders, claustrophobia-inducing passageways and a canoe ride.    

Laithwaites believe it’s the first wine aged like this to be sold in the UK (if not the world!).   

The benefits of such extremes include perfect temperature regulation, zero light pollution and zero evaporation, leading to amazing preservation of purity and an enhanced complexity you can taste in the glass. Of course, a 400m round trip is no easy feat for a wine. The bottles have to be lowered, first by a rope pulley system and the rest by hand, down into the rushing underground river. But, remarkably, Mark knows it’s worth it.     

“Let’s call this ‘extreme cellaring’,” says Mark.  “No light, perfect humidity and pressure - pretty much creating conditions that beat the most expensive wine storage.”     

Mark adds: “So many winemakers wouldn’t even think of going to these lengths but for Sylvain, scaling 200m down and 200m back up, with wet feet, is all part of the fun of making wine in the playground of southern France.  I’m so excited for you to finally have your taste of this truly unique wine … our find of the year: Chasm de Cabrespine Minervois 2019.”

Chasm de Cabrespine Minervois 2019 RRP £19.99 [ABV 14%]

Domaine Lauran Cabaret has been cultivating grapes on the slopes of the Mediterranean garrigue outside the Cité du Carcassonne and Canal du Midi for nearly 100 years, and supplying wine to Laithwaites for almost as long.     

This truly underground wine is a blend of 2/3 Syrah from 30-year-old vines, and 1/3 Grenache from even older plantings, high in the Black Mountains above the famous walled city.  After picking, some of the ripest bunches are left whole for carbonic maceration. 

Initial ageing takes place in clay amphorae which Sylvain has nestled into the upper part of the cave at a steady 14oC because, even at that stage, he’s focused on maximising this red’s generous flavour.   

And after six years in the Chasm?  “I tasted this against the same wine stored in a tradition cellar,” explains Mark, “and it’s brighter and more vibrant - ripe blackberries, spice and mature fruit that’s just… alive.”

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Note to Editors – About Laithwaites

Laithwaites Wine was founded in 1969, when Tony Laithwaite drove a van of Bordeaux wine to England to share with family and friends.  Laithwaites has since grown to become one of the UK’s largest wine merchants, yet remains family-owned and still gives pride of place to smaller producers. 

The Laithwaites wine team tastes over 40,000 wines a year before selecting the best buys for customers. Laithwaites offers 1,200 wines from 26 countries, ranging in price from £4.99 up to £1,200 a bottle and all covered by a 100% guarantee of enjoyment. They also offer an extensive gifts range, complimentary Wine Advisor service, and host a range of events. 

Laithwaites Wine is the only UK wine merchant to win the Service Mark accreditation from the Institute of Customer Service and has twice been awarded Online Retailer of the Year.  Laithwaites is delighted to be one of ten leading retailers which have signed up to the 'SWR Bottle Weight Accord'.  

Founded in 2021, the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) is the only global independent multistakeholder roundtable in wine.  Jancis Robinson is a founding member and with now more than 100 members from around the world, the SWR has become the centre for collaborative action across the wine supply chain.    

Please mark as #gifted

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Further information:    

Ali Mann [alison@ew-pr.co.uk]

emma wellings pr: 020 8996 5168