Domaine du Pesquier Côtes-du-Rhône 2020

This old Family estate is now being run by the 4th generation, Mathieu and his sister Géraldine Boutiere. The domaine started producing wine in 1950, as well as olive oil. The vineyard was extended after the big frost of 1956, which devastated all of the olive trees. By 1971 (the year Gigondas obtained its own AOC), the estate was only producing wine. From their winery and home in Gigondas, Mathieu and his father Guy work their 24 ha of vines, producing exclusively red wines: 17ha in Gigondas, 1ha in Vacqueyras, 2ha in Côtes-du-Rhône and 4ha in Vin de Pays.

The vineyards are farmed sustainable, organic but not certified. The vineyards are worked with the highest level of respect for the soil and the terroir. No herbicides or pesticides have been used since 1997.

The style of Domaine du Pesquier is the paradigm of traditional Rhône wine. The spotless winery doesn’t contain a single new barrel but rather old wooden casks, “foudres,” and cement tanks. Though used at this winery for years, cement has been rediscovered by the world’s best wineries (ie Cheval Blanc) as a perfect material for developing wines because of its very steady temperature. Though traditional in approach, it does not mean that there hasn’t been change and progress at Pesquier. For instance, the wines now undergo a 3 day, pre-fermentation cold soak and the grapes are destemmed since 2001; in 2003, a new and very effective technique of delestage started to be used. In 2005, temperature control was installed in the entire winery. However beyond technique, at the end of the day, are the wines: deep, dark profound, perfectly balanced between the abundant fruit provided by well-tended Rhône varieties and the secondary aromas and flavors of garrigue, including wild thyme, lavender and an earthy minerality. The artisanal care that goes into making these wines is apparent in the finesse that balances their power: very fine tannins and long, flavorful finishes that go on forever. These are wines that speak to the very best of the southern Rhône. The wines are vegan.