Domaine Font du Michelle Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Etienne Gonnet 2020

The Gonnet family have been in the area of Châteauneuf du Pape since 1600 but it was until 1950 that the family commenced the cultivatation of vines. Etienne Gonnet purchased vineyards on the south east area of Châteauneuf du Pape which he combined with his wife, Jeanne’s vineyards (inherited from the Brunier family of Vieux Télégraphe) and Domaine Font-de-Michelle was born – “Domaine Font du Vent” in the US market. The property is now run by Etienne and Jeanne’s grandsons, Guillaume and Bertrand. The domaine cultivate 46 ha (115 acres) of vines in Châteauneuf du Pape and 20 ha of vines in the Gard including AOC Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages Sinargues which is sold under the Font du Vent label. The terroir of Châteauneuf du Pape is mostly on sandy and rocky soils which produces a concentrated but silky red wine style which is very much the hallmark of Font du Vent. The sandy soil also provides wonderful freshness to their Châteauneuf du Pape white wine.The domaine has worked organically for many years but it was not until Guillaume and Bertrand took over the reins from their fathers that they opted for Organic registration. They have also adopted biodynamic practices on parcels of their oldest vines to prolong their longevity. The oldest vines are 120 years old and are located on a raised plateau where there is a little more clay giving wines of even more intensity. The Châteauneuf du Pape reds are mostly fermented in pyramidal concrete vats. They opt for a gentle extraction of tannin and colour. The majority grape, Grenache is matured in concrete and large oak barrels (“foudres”). The foudres round out the tannins without imparting oak flavour, thus allowing for a fuller expression of their terroir in the wine. Syrah and Mouvèdre are matured in used 600 litre oak barrels (“demi-muids”). The wine styles are traditional with delicate touches of modernity that do not compromise the unique expression of their terroir.