GG_N43_COMPLET_ITA-WEB

RHONE VALLEY
– REGION –
Jean-Luc Monteillet and his daughter Mélina
estate where vines grow on the clay-limestone soils of
Jonquières, in Vaucluse. Over the last 15 years, they have
developed sales of bottled wines and exports. In the
process of converting to organic, they intend to maximise
the potential of the endorsement in France and Europe,
where it is highly valued.
Their range includes wines for fun under the ‘Pitreries’
label of varietals, but also more serious Côtes du Rhône,
Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan-de-Dieu and the villagedesignated
appellation Cairanne. Although part of the
wines are still sold in bulk, 100,000 bottles are produced
under IGP Méditerranée, 15,000 bottles as Côtes du
Rhône and Côtes du Rhône-Villages and 6,700 bottles as
Cru Cairanne with its star-studded reputation.
Not far away, at the foot of Château de Suze-la-Rousse,
brothers Luc and Rémi Bayon de Noyer run the vineyard
at Domaine des Gravennes, set amidst lavender and truffle
oaks. Les Gravennes is a certified organic estate. “Our
parents’ ethos was always not to grow vines intensively
but to heed the call of nature”, recalls Luc, the younger
of the two brothers. “We have made it our mission to
SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 31