Wines

This cuvée is primarily a blend of Vermentino and Grenache Blanc, made from southwest-facing parcels on sandy soils.  It contains seven different white varietals (also: Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Rousanne, Marsanne, and Viognier), undergoes a natural fermentation, and is then aged on the fine lees in mostly concrete. A small portion is aged in older oak barrels for 9 months before being bottled.

From Sylvain Morey, scion of our Chassagne producer, Jean-Marc, comes this rose from his domaine in Luberon. 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan. The Syrah and three-quarters of the Grenache is direct-press, with the remainder macerated on skins for several hours. Fermented then left on lees in concrete tanks for 6 months before bottling. A wine of surprising structure and length with an elegant balance of red fruit and subtle spice.

Made from vines averaging about 50 years old, the Malacare is primarily Syrah (60%) and Grenache (25%) with a small amount of Carignan (10%), and comes from southwest-facing slopes of sandy soil.  After a fairly long cuvaison of about 3 weeks, the wine is aged mostly in concrete for roughly a year, with the Syrah partly aged in large barrels before being bottled.

“Le Claux” is a 2.25-ha site situated at 300-350 meters of altitude. Its soils of clayey marl, rare in the Luberon, along with its northeastern exposure, contribute to a long maturation cycle and engender a wine of great complexity for the area. 60% Syrah (planted 1973), 30% Grenache (1962) and 10% Mourvèdre (1949), with yields rarely topping a meager 30-hl/ha. Naturally fermented with a portion of its added-back stems and aged 2 years primarily in used 600-L demi-muids, “Le Claux” leads with its Syrah aromatically—a coolly spicy and black-fruited nose of notable lift. Densely concentrated and layered on the palate, its tannins have teeth but finishes with a bright, vibrating energy, speaking to Sylvain’s skillful farming and light touch in the cellar.