GG_N49_ESP

RHÔNE VALLEY
IDENTITY
FRUIT IS PICKED LATE AT DOMAINE DE TARA TO PRODUCE THE MI-FIGUE MI-RAISIN
LABEL, A GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATION OF ITS VINEYARD SITES
reds”. The Secret de Vincent label, made from
Syrah with a hint of Grenache, comes from 40
to 50-year-old vines grown on pebble soils. It
combines generous fruit with more complex
mineral and garrigue notes. Its mouth-filling
volume and finely defined tannins make it a
superlative wine that will benefit from several
years’ maturation to fully reveal its potential.
Just a few kilometres away, Domaine du Grand
Jacquet is a 15-hectare vineyard located on
hillsides at elevations ranging from 250 to
400 metres. Grenache noir takes centre stage at
this family estate, which has been run based on
the premise of biodynamic winegrowing since
2008. “Syrah, which is more fragile, sometimes
struggles to thrive on these stony soils, which
are frequently buffeted by the strong Mistral
wind. It is usually planted on sheltered plots
farther down”, explains Joël Jacquet, who has
been farming vines here since 1982. The red Les
Planètes label, with its generous aromatics, its
smooth, velvety palate and clear site-expressiveness,
proved to be very convincing. The
Grenache noir grapes, which make up 90% of the
blend, come from a block of 45-year-old vines
located at an altitude of 300 metres, on clay and
gravel soils. Its deep roots make it extremely
drought-resistant. The cooler, windier conditions
than on the plains yield concentrated
grapes with thick, light skins. The tannins are
very supple and adding Syrah gives the wine the
colour it lacks. Patricia and Joël Jacquet produce
authentic, generous, balanced wines with a
distinctive southern identity.
Farther South, near the Luberon, Domaine de
Tara has 12 hectares of ochre soil, which is rich
in nutrients and iron, in some of its vineyards.
The estate is located in the village of Roussillon,
once known as the ‘Village of Ochre’ when its
ochre soil was exported to the Nordic countries
to combat saltpetre. As a nod to the area’s
history, Michèle and Patrick Folléa have named
one of their ranges Terre d’Ocres. The vineyard
soils lend finesse and delicacy to the wines in the
range, which are designed for early-drinking.
The rolling landscape is also home to some great
34 AUTUMN 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE