From a Languedoc wine village

Some of you may remember Richard Neville, who kindly wrote this account of Bruges for travel tips and this exceptionally detailed guide to Belgian beers (of which an updated version will be published soon). He was a part-time wine merchant in my native Cumbria before taking off for continental Europe. He now sends us the following report on the current state of viticulture in the Languedoc, where he and his wife Linda are now based.