One Winery-two Domains!
The first estate owes its name – Domaine de La Charité – and comes from their first parcel of land. According to the local land registry, this particular plot was so called because, during the Middle Ages, the lord of Saze handed it over to the village clergy to grow vines for producing wine with which to celebrate mass –making it a ‘wine of Charity’. The history of the winery goes back three generations, to 1964 and an initial five hectares (12.4 acres) of vines. In 1964, they took their leave of the cooperative winery in Rochefort-du-Gard to become a privately-owned and run family concern, simultaneously in 1991. They redeem a second Domaine of 15 hectares (37 acres), Domaine de Javone was the property of the Baron Baroncelli Javon who was the banker of Avignon’s popes. This Domaine is specially dedicated to export market with a different blend of varieties.
Vines and wines:
Until 1990, they produced red and rosé table wine and red, rosé and white Côtes du Rhône from their estate’s 27 hectares (66.7 acres). Following the acquisition of the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation, they added to their selection with a red Côtes du Rhône Villages whose minimum age is four years. The most recent addition to the property was in 1991, with the purchase of ‘Domaine de la Javone’, a single holding of 13 hectares (a little over 32 acres). They further increased their choice of wines in 1998, with the introduction of a classic bottle-fermented sparkling wine. Their vines occupy three different types of topography – south-facing mini-slopes (Urgonian soils), level sections in the village and parts of the plains (Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyards exclusively containing the galets roulés* so characteristic of nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape). 2008 acquisition of one hectare of Châteauneuf du Pape, pure grenache.
Planted vine varieties :
Famille COSTE – Rhône sud remain very attached to, and intend carrying on the tradition of, one of the key factors in the success of Côtes du Rhône wines – the area’s rich and diverse collection of grape varieties. For the reds, this list features Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault. For the whites, it means Grenache Blanc and Viognier and, for the rosés, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault.
Recently, Famille COSTE – Rhône sud has joined Singapore Wine, Spirits and Beer Competition and won a gold and a silver medal in this competition:
Côtes du Rhône 2016 – Awarded Gold by Singapore Newspaper
Cuvée : La Dame Noire
Place – Lieu Dit : Le Vallon
Soils & Terroir : Clay-limestone and « egg stones »
Grapes : Mourvèdre 100%
Vinification : Destemming and classic maceration, control temperatures. Long maceration, selection of the juice. Fermentation by yeasts daily winding.
Ageing : 6 months in stainless steel tank.
Tasting : Intense aromas of dark fruit, and spices aroma. The mouth is full bodied, fresh and with beautiful tannins. Very long in the mouth => Good with strong meat (game) or spicy foods.
Cuvée : Altitude 150
Place – Lieu Dit : Espinnassière et Ver-Meiranne
Soils & Terroir : « Villefranchien » and « egg stones »
Grapes : Grenache 70% – Mourvèdre 30%
Vinification : Semi-carbonic maceration with Grenache. Stalking with Mourvèdre, and always no crushing. Fermentation by yeast natives and thermoregulation. Daily winding.
Ageing : Maceration and breeding 8/12 months in French Allier oak barrels.
Tasting : Intense aromas of black fruits, 5 bays peppers, Garrigue. Structured powerful wine with beautiful texture and dense final. Very long in the mouth => Good with beef, BBQ, Hindu, Chinese cooking.
