2018-C Domaine de l’Amauve La Vigne de Louis, Vaucluse IGP, France (750ml)
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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
M. Christian Voeux has a long and storied history in the southern Rhône valley. After 24 years as the Maître de Chais (cellar master) at the renowned Château Mont-Redon in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, he left Mont-Redon to run Château la Nerthe, another well respected Châteauneuf-du-Pape property. When his parents retired in 2005, Christian decided to take over the family property in Séguret and began making the wines. The results have been stunning.
Located just a stone’s throw from Gigondas and sharing the same soils and terroir, the village of Séguret is built into the side of a steep limestone cliff. It is inside the larger Vaucluse appellation used for this particular wine. The vineyards grow down the hillside to a gravely plateau. The terroir is a mix of disintegrated limestone with alluvial gravel, sand and clay on a limestone bedrock. Farming at Domaine de l’Amauve is organic, green harvesting is employed to reduce yields and native grasses are encouraged to develop natural diversity in the vineyard. The Mediterranean climate ensures favorable conditions for quality grapes each year.
The blend in this vintage is 60% Syrah, 40% Grenache. Harvesting is done by hand, over several passes, to select the best clusters at optimal ripeness. The grapes are gently crushed and sent to small stainless steel tanks where the fermentation begins spontaneously with the native yeasts. Extraction of color and tannins are enhanced by both daily pump-overs and punching down of the cap. The temperature was controlled at 82 - 86 °F with a total maceration time of 25 days. After racking the wine was aged on the fine lees to help preserve the freshness and aromas of the young wine until bottling (approximately 8 months after the harvest). The finished wine was bottled in May 2019 and is Certified Vegan—no animal products were used in the winemaking process.
Dark garnet with a touch of purple. Lush aromas of dark fruits, lavender and a hint of herbes de Provence. The flavors follow with black cherry, fresh red berries and velvety, fine grained tannins. The finish is long and plush. Classic Southern Rhône style. Santé!