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Region: France - Rhone Valley - Ventoux
Grapes: 60% Grenache. 40% Syrah
Alcohol: 14%
Notes on the Wine
Deep ruby color. Intense nose with spicy notes (especially black pepper) and red berries. This very balanced wine offers very round tannins and fresh berries aromas, with some floral and spicy flavors.
Notes on the Supplier
The Chaudière and Bastide families have now farmed this land for 3 generations. Odette and René purchased the Château in the early 1970’s. While the building itself dates to the 1750s the lands around it have been cultivated since the Roman era. Recent archaeological discoveries have proven that wine was made in this region as early as the 1st century BCE and the name of the property derives from the Latin name for fish ponds, pescarium – no doubt due to the springs that occur naturally near the Château.
Now in the capable hands of Fred and Alex Chaudière, the sons of Edith and Paul, Château Pesquié is comprised of 100 hectares of vines. Only organic treatments and composts are used in the vineyard. Weed control is done by turning over the soil, and harvesting is done by hand. There are three main terroirs on the property: rocky limestone clay, red clay and loamy gray clay. They grow Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Clairette, Viognier, Chardonnay and Muscat. Their most common and diverse plantings are of Syrah and Grenache, each chosen specifically for their soils and exposure. Fortunately the Ventoux has a cooler micro-climate than the vineyards near the Rhône so Fred and Alex can be guaranteed a longer and slower ripening of their fruit – especially important for these two varieties. The age of the vines ranges from 20 to well over 80 years old.
All of these elements: good terroir, older vines, organic farming and hand harvesting ensure that only the best grapes reach the cellar. Once there, Alexander oversees the winemaking utilizing stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Aging takes place in tank, concrete or barrel depending on variety and the final blends are carefully made to capture the essence of each cuvée: Terrasses is forward and engaging, Quintessence is concentrated and age-worthy while Artemia is only made in top vintages and represents the best the estate can offer.
