We stayed in this gite in July 2013. The gite is ok but not one of the best places that we have ever stayed and is a bit old fashioned in decor and quite dark heavy decor! Kitchen is basic and can cook simple meals (not a lot of dishes to prepare quiches/cakes etc) - but you will have to be a but of a contortionist to be able to open the oven and put things in and out! The visitor book that lists where things can be found is quite out of date and not everything is where it should be and not quite sure which information you should be following.

We quite like our comforts on holiday and so were disappointed that there were no sun-loungers and cushions to laze on in the garden. There are 4 big cushions to sit on, but would have been a real squish if 8 people on the comfort level and are quite heavy to drag into the garden and back. We didn't manage to find cushions for the plastic chairs during the whole of stay which made sitting at the table a bit uncomfortable.
The garden is quite nice though and the patio area and gazebo area are ok.

Bize-Minervois is a tiny town - restaurants are really not great, which is disappointing - we tried 2 of them and the food was average.

Although most people would probably not find the following a problem, we found dealing with the owners (who seem very nice) made the booking process etc more stressful than normal and have never had to deal with so many questions and emails before going away. We've booked a number of cottages/gites etc before from various websites and directly through owners and this has been far and away our worst experience in terms of hassle and questions and emails.

Make sure you buy a map and figure out your own route as the directions provided by the owners are a not great! Also surprised that upon booking the whole gite we were asked how many rooms we wanted making up - surely if we have paid for the whole property you just make the whole place up? We found the extra questions and contact with the owners a bit of a pain - probably because we were manic crazy at work and just wanted to book somewhere and turn up and not have to deal with yet more emails in our inboxes for something that should be relaxing and easy.

Also, beware - you will have to send the keys back to the owners - by recorded delivery at your own expense (and the map that they send you!) once you return to the UK and you will not get your deposit back until you do this - which is fine if you don't work and live near a post office, but if you aren't able to get to a post office upon your return you will have more stress to sort this out.

I would not go back to this gite - mainly because of the extra hassle involved in booking with emails and having to deal with the keys and I like to be alot more comfortable on holiday.