The vintage

It is not in our nature to be pessimistic. Even less to be alarmist. But the strength of the situation is imposed us : the French Vineyard suffers head-on the effects of climate change. It is not an isolated case. Obviously. Simply, we are, here, in a position to take the measure of this alteration, vintage after vintage ...
2019 vintage was marked by an extreme drought. Between April and September, the Vineyards did not benefit from any serious rain. The little water that fell would evaporate before it had even moistened the soil. To add to the anticipated catastrophe, June broke heat records.
The disaster, considering volumes or quality, could only be major. Yes, but... But the Vines, and especially the old Vines, are capable of resistance, of resilience, which impose respect…We can but watch. And humbly admire this plant which strives to adapt... And we are shaken at the idea that, one day, the current upheavals will exceed the permissible thresholds, and that our wonderful Grape varieties may be forced to fade...
Finally, harvest time came… No water in the soils. Barely a few drops… And this was the moment when Mother Nature gave a little help ! In mid-September, salvaging rains - some twenty millimetres - completely changed the face of the Vintage. The Vines, that lack of water and strong heats had stressed, relaxed, and the phenolic maturities were triggered...A winning bet for the Vignerons who made the choice of being patient ! But, how not to wonder, when “miracles” appear as more and more requisite “ingredients” with each new vintage... ?
Despite of the solar character of the Vintage, the Wines rightly honor their Terroirs. Whites, alike reds, are noble, precise, harmoniously characterized.
They, too, are promised a bright future… !

Terroir

Les Oliviers sur Mauves – La Ribaudy sur Chavanay – La Roue sur Saint-Jean de Muzols

Ageing

10 months in new, one and two old barrels

Alcohol content

14

Cépages

Marsanne : 85 %
Roussanne : 15 %

Starfruit, green plum, fennel and honeysuckle notes stream through in this bright, tasty white, backed with a mouthwatering flash of quinine on the finish.

Wine Spectator , 92/100 , 2021-06-30