Domaine l’Astragale
The Estate
Its history and biodiversity.
Domaine l’Astragale is an olive-growing estate in Les Matelles, in the Hérault region of southern France. Its nine hectares of hillside face Pic Saint-Loup and the Hortus. Its name pays tribute to Albertine Sarrazin, the passionate, singular writer who lived in Les Matelles and whose work echoes the spirit of independence and authenticity that inspires this place.
The olive grove was planted around a hundred years ago, then left untended from 1970 onwards. During those years without human cultivation, dense, fragrant, nectar-rich Mediterranean scrubland reclaimed the land.
Magnificent oaks, ash trees, white poplars, elms, mastic trees, azaroles, strawberry trees, blackthorn, hackberries, wild pear trees, prickly juniper, dog roses and Montpellier maples flourished. Thyme, rosemary, winter savory, lavender, St John’s wort, sage, sticky fleabane and helichrysum settled beneath the olive trees.
Our Commitment
A family project, local and ethical.
Looking for land for our horses, we acquired these four plots in 2017. Once they were settled, the horses soon revealed hundreds of olive trees as they cleared the undergrowth and fertilised the ground along their paths.
The challenge was to maintain a beneficial balance that preserved the existing biodiversity, allowing each living thing to find its place while contributing to life as a whole.
An exceptional
extra virgin olive oil
L’Astragale olive oil has a remarkable analytical profile, reflecting the quality of the olives, the care taken in processing them and the natural richness of the resulting oil.
With free acidity of just 0.17%, it is well below the regulatory limit of 0.80% for extra virgin olive oil. This low acidity reflects the excellent quality of the olives, harvested in good conditions and milled promptly, together with rigorous control of the extraction process.
Its peroxide value of 4.8 mEq O2/kg confirms its excellent freshness and very low primary oxidation. Far below the limit of 20 mEq O2/kg, this result indicates a well-preserved oil with good stability and the potential to keep well, provided it is stored away from light, heat and air.
Exceptionally rich
in polyphenols
L’Astragale olive oil contains 409.6 mg/kg of total phenols, a particularly high level for an extra virgin olive oil. It is well above the European threshold of 250 mg/kg associated with the claim* that olive oil polyphenols help protect blood lipids from oxidative stress, as part of a daily intake of 20 g of oil.
Its profile combines oleacein and oleocanthal, phenolic compounds that contribute to the oil’s antioxidant character and explain some of its sensory qualities: intense fruitiness, pleasant bitterness and a peppery finish.
*Claim established by the European Commission, Regulation (EU) No 432/2012.
Green fruitiness,
intense and harmonious
L’Astragale stands out for its subtle balance between the three criteria used to assess olive oil.
FRUITINESS
Fruitiness, first perceived on the nose and then in the mouth, is an aromatic sensation. L’Astragale’s fruitiness recalls the scent of freshly cut grass.
BITTERNESS
A taste perceived in the mouth, linked to the presence of compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
PUNGENCY
A tactile, peppery sensation that signals the freshness of the olives and their richness in polyphenols.
Preserving the oil
The oil is stored away from light, air and heat in stainless steel tanks with floating lids. Its opaque aluminium bottle, which can be recycled indefinitely, was chosen to preserve the oil at its best. Bottling takes place at the estate, by gravity, on demand.
Natural cold-process soaps
This traditional method respects the raw ingredients, naturally producing vegetable glycerine, known for its moisturising properties, while preserving the ingredients’ qualities.
Cold processing olive oil from the estate’s latest harvest produces high-quality soaps with a 12% superfat content, helping to reinforce the skin’s hydrolipidic film, soften it and soothe it.
The colours come from added clays, plants and sun-infused helichrysum and St John’s wort oils, harvested and prepared on the estate. They cannot be reproduced exactly and vary from batch to batch. The scents come from organic essential oils of Mediterranean plants found on the estate.
Heraldic Symbols
Each symbol in the Astragale coat of arms was chosen to reflect the estate’s history and values.
Bringing the horse and olive tree together creates a balance between action and reflection, breath and vitality.
Together, they embody the estate’s promise and express the identity of Domaine l’Astragale.
The horse
At the heart of the estate,
a link between sky and earth,
the horse is the vital breath
that brings this place to life.
The olive tree
A guardian of Mediterranean
memories, the olive tree
tells the story of centuries
of resilience.
The stars
In the Mediterranean night,
a star keeps shining above
the clouds, a standard-bearer
for Astragale’s values.
Pic Saint-Loup
A silent sentinel between
the sea and the Cévennes,
its shadow marks the seasons
across Montpellier’s scrubland.
The hand
A symbol of trust
and gentle connection,
the open hand invites us
to receive and share.
The rod of Asclepius
A symbol of care and healing,
here the staff is replaced
by an olive branch, a sign
of harmony and balance.
Become a member
of Club l’Astragale
With production very limited, Domaine l’Astragale offers access to a reserved allocation. By joining the Club for €50 a year, two bottles will be reserved for you. A privileged way to support the estate’s approach and secure a share of its harvest.
Contact
Domaine
l’Astragale
To request a bottle of olive oil, please contact the estate directly.