Region: France - Coteaux de L'Ardeche
Grapes: Chatus
Alcohol: 13%
Notes on the Wine
Ample, violet-laced blackberry fruits, scorched earth, tar, graphite and licorice to go with a medium-bodied, structured, yet elegant profile on the palate. The texture is liquid granite and it flows over the tongue as if woven from the finest silk. Yet this medium-bodied wine is light and graceful, with notable, savory tannin and integrated acidity with cherry, spice and pepper.
Chatus, pronounced (cha~two), the ancient 12th Century grape variety cultivated only by a few estates. A relative of an ancient clone of Nebbiolo (Barolo and Barbaresco).
Notes on the Producer
In 1998 Christophe Reynouard took over the helm of the family estate, based in the far western edge of the Ardeche, from his father. Christophe studied farming practices and winemaking under the tutelage of the legendary Georges Verney, the legendary producer in Condrieu. Along with Chrystelle and their sons, they raise wines which are floral and profound, notably the ultra-rare Chatus. The soils in their terraced parcels are Granite, in the form of sand. The winery farms sustainably with no chemicals used in the vineyards.
