Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1985

Location : The appellation area is situated on the left bank of the Rhone River, between Orange and Avignon. 

Soils : The main feature is the large rounded stones or pebbles known locally as "galets" which retain some of the intense daytime heat of the Provencal sun and then slowly disperse it to the vines during the night. This layer of stones is two metres deep and beneath it there is a layer of clay, through which the vines' roots penetrate in search of water. In short, an exceptional soil. 

Climate : Mediterranean with particularly hot summers. The Mistral wind blows away any humidity, ensuring climactic conditions very favourable to the cultivation of vines. H A R V E S T All grapes are hand picked, which enables to select the best grapes. This is a major point in the quality of our wines.

Winemaking & Ageing : After complete de-stemming, the grapes are macerated and punched down during two to three weeks to ensure maximum extraction of tannins and colour. Once the malolactic fermentation is completed, half of the volume is brought up in Burgundian barrels of 228 litters, the other half is kept in vats. Following careful selection of the best wines in the cellar, we make a single blend, which will be bottled at the Estate about eighteen months after the harvest. Once the wine is in the bottle, they remain for at least four to six months in our cellars before being shipped.

Their red Châteauneuf-du-Papes open up and come into their own five to eight years after the harvest, but they can age over ten years depending on the vintage and the storage conditions.