2022 Domaine Rouge-Bleu Dentelle Rouge

An blend of somewhere between 60-70% Carignan and the rest Grenache, farmed biodynamically (uncertified). From a site at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, both AOC Cotes du Rhone and non-classified. The Carignan  vineyard is 37 years old and the Grenache is 27 years. The non-AOC block is 57 year old vines planted in the typical alluvial stones of the Southern Rhone. The hand-harvested grapes are crushed but not destemmed before being put into traditional concrete tanks for fermentation with indigenous yeast. The mature stems have been kept in order to aerate the must during fermentation, allowing them to naturally maintain a lower temperature of fermentation. Maceration of 10-14 days with pump-overs every 2 days. Matured for a minimum of 12 months in concrete tank before release. Bottled at the Domaine. Minimal sulphite addition. 13% alcohol. Only 500 cases made. 

Aromas of summer berries, sweet spice, and cassis. On the palate, delicate notes of blackcurrant, cherry, wild blackberry and nutmeg complimented by gentle tannins. This medium bodied wine makes a fine match for summer or winter dishes. Try it with vegetable salads, charcuterie, pizza, roast chicken or BBQ.

Domaine Rouge-Bleu was founded in 2007 by Jean-Marc Espinasse, a creative dreamer whose roots  in the wine industry have touched both a continuing brokering business, and much hands-on work with his uncle, Monsieur Jean-Claude Vidal, who along with his family, gives life to the wonderful Domaine du Banneret in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

In 2012, life partners Caroline Jones and Thomas Bertrand purchased the Domaine. Caroline is a trained enologist from Western Australia, who’s MO is “...to harmonize the modern methods taught in Australia with the traditions and styles of France.” Her partner Thomas was born near Alsace in the Vosges mountains. He spent 12 years in the UK working exclusively in the wine trade. After working for one of the major wine estates in Chateauneuf-du-Pape as head of Domestic Sales and Oenotourism, he was able, since 2015, to devote himself fully to Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Recently their village of Sainte-Cécile les Vignes was elevated as one of fewer than 20 Côtes du Rhone Villages allowed to conjoin the village name - Côtes du Rhone Sainte-Cécile. This gives their appellation new prestige, placing Ste Cécile in the company of Cairanne, Sablet, Chusclan, Séguret, and others.

Domaine Rouge-Bleu was and still is tiny … 8.5 hectares of stone and vine, producing minuscule yields. The work is hard but satisfying. In addition to doing virtually all of the farming themselves, the couple runs a Bed and Breakfast on the property, and raise two young daughters. The biggest project currently is the replanting of many of the vineyard parcels, and, being organic and biodynamic, finding strategies to keep the competition from weeds, flowers, herbs and grass from overtaking the vineyards each summer.