A
Love Story
We
love our vineyards. More than anything, it is this love of the land
that drives us, a love that our vineyards pay back multiplied by one
hundred, and more and more the wines we produce reflect this relationship.
Therefore we decided to formalize this shared love, starting in 2010,
by engaging in organic farming certification. This is the logical
conclusion of decades of living together.
For so many years, all our actions have been motivated by respect
for the land, for its balance and for this infinitely rich invisible
life that is responsible for the quality of the terroir of "our"
Rhone Valley, a unique region that we worship.
Until
recently, the use in organic farming of nothing more than copper,
for treatments such as the fight against the fungi that attack the
vineyard, seemed to us like a double edged sword. In fact, in excess
copper is recognized to be harmful to soil life, yet it is this life
which is central to our concerns about how to express the best qualities
of our terroir. It seems clear that now real technical advances, such
as the use of herbal plant remedies (horsetail, nettle) and our experience,
allow us to use copper more sparingly; it is possible to not interfere
with this invisible yet essential form of life.
We have therefore decided to begin the process of organic certification,
starting with the 2010 vintage.
This
approach fits perfectly with our philosophy, since our requirements
have always been more stringent than the specifications required by
organic certification: absolute respect for soil structure, biodiversity,
fight against erosion, 100% manual harvesting, selection of plants
from our old vines, soil rest, these are constraints that do not exist
in organic farming, but we have been applying them all along.
It seems indeed necessary to go well beyond the recommendations set
by the specifications, if we want to preserve the qualities of our
terroirs and hand them over intact to future generations.
In
order to go even further in search of excellence, and following the
extraordinary test done last year tilling the soil with a horse, we
followed our dreams and in November we will welcome SAKO: a magnificent
3-year old comtois horse weighing 800 kg and measuring 1.73 m at the
shoulder, a beautiful beast of infinite kindness, perfect for plowing
our very old plots of Chateauneuf -du-Pape, Tavel and Lirac without
compacting the soil and in total harmony with nature.
The
year 2009 promises to be lavish, the winter was harsh, long and rainy,
we had a cool very wet spring, which helped to rebuild groundwater
levels. The wells that had dried up for years have again begun to
flow, nature was beautiful, it felt good after a winter that weighed
heavy on us.
The cool, wet spring has not posed any particular problem, and we
approached summer in good conditions. The vineyard having been so
well cared for, it was ready to tackle the summer drought. July and
August were very dry, August was very hot, ripeness had advanced rapidly
and because the nights remained fresh, the aromatic potential, the
color and the balance of the wines were perfect, so the vines resisted
the severe drought with ease.
The
harvest took place under optimal conditions, without a drop of rain,
beginning August 24 and ending September 16. Ultimately, the quality
of the wine is truly outstanding: color, richness, silky tannins,
intense and complex flavors, perfect balance, everything is there
to make 2009 one of the best years of our history. All varieties have
managed to achieve optimum ripeness and are therefore conducive to
special very high standard cuvées.
The
only problem, but it is significant, is the huge decline in harvested
quantities that we experienced on all wines: 25% on average, this
is considerable and will necessarily mean a supply shortage on this
exceptional vintage, unlike 2007 when the quantities were normal.
The
2008 vintage meanwhile confirms all the good things that we thought
of it last year: the wines are colorful, very fragrant, and velvety,
with silky tannins. Less structured in tannins than the 2007 or 2009
vintage, it is a delicious vintage with good aging potential; it will
give much pleasure in its youth, but will also be capable of successful
aging. It should be noted that the aging potential is lower than in
2005, 2007 or 2009, each capable of maturing for twenty years and
more. In many ways it resembles 2000, a beautiful reference, and mature
for drinking now.
On
the news front: the production of Condrieu was somewhat larger, we
have a barrel of 228 liters. The year 2009 will be excellent for whites
in the northern Rhone Valley, and so we will market a few bottles.
The
2007 vintage, which produced larger quantities, is still in our price
list because we have a few hundred bottles left to sell. This gives
you a choice between different vintages.
We
approach 2010 with great serenity, the outlook for quality wines produced
with authenticity and ethics seems favorable, and our past choices
have proven to be decisive advantages for the future.
So
we are optimistic, and that feels good.
Christophe
DELORME
