The vineyard : Situated between Provence and Dauphiné on the left bank of the Rhone River, comprised in the triangle of Montélimar, St. Paul les 3 Châteaux and Grignan, the Appellation Grignan les Adhèmar covers 2,830 hectares spread out over 21 communities. An entity where lavender, white oak trees favouring the growth of truffles, aromatic plants and olive trees prosper. The Mistral, a predominant wind , contributes to an exceptional amount of sunshine which gives fullness and generosity to the Coteaux du Tricastin wines.
The Soils : The appellation area is made up of many different types of soil. The sub-soil is mainly clayish-limestone or sand, however, the surface changes with each zone. Frequently the vines grew in garrigue lands and brushwoods.
The Climate : Tricastin wines are the furthest north of the Mediterranean zones of the Rhone Valley; thus its climate is influenced by the nearby hills. At the foot of the Lance mountain (limestone) the weather conditions are colder with more humidity in the air. On the other hand, in St. Paul les 3 Chateaux or in Baume le Transit, the climate is typically Mediterranean.
Background : The planting of vines in the Tricastin area dates back to Antiquity. The Romans called in for help, settled here and colonized the Gallic tribe that they baptised “Tricastini”. In the 11th century a chart reveals the donation of the vines to the Abbey of St. Chaffe in Grignan… And it is in the XVIth century the famous Marquise de Sevigné immortalized the Tricastin wines in her elegant writings. Classified as VDQS wines in 1964, the vines at that time only covered 365 hectares compared to 2,500 a century before! In the 60’s and 70’s, the vineyard quickly expanded thanks to winegrowers coming from different wine producing areas, soon to be followed by local farmers. Grignan les Adhèmar became an appellation on July 27,1973.
Vinification
Surface of production* : 1,632 hectares, annual production: 48,387 hectolitres; basic yield: 30 hectolitres per hectare.
*Source: the Official Harvest Report 2010
Grape varieties : for the red and rosé wines: Black Grenache and Syrah (80% minimum), secondary wine varieties : Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault.
For the white wines: White Grenache, Viognier, White Clairette, Roussane, Marsanne, Bourboulenc.
Minimum alcoholic content : for red, rosé and white wines: 11°
Characterisitics of Grignan les Adhèmar wines
Tricastin is a transition zone between the northern and southern part of the Rhone Valley. Its wines can be considered in the same way. The climate and soils certainly play a big part but the grape varieties used are also a major factor.
The red Tricastin wines are made essentially with Grenache grapes, as for the most part of the southern Rhone Valley wines, but in this appellation the Syrah grapes counts for 25% of the planted varieties used for the red wine. This is sufficient to give our Tricastin wines a different and original touch.
The red Tricastin wines are therefore less heady, less ‘sunny’ wines than the other Rhone wines from the south, but they are more elegant, well-balanced, aromatic and complex. The cellars often produce several blends resulting in fruity ,well-balanced wines as well as more complex and well-structured keeping wines.
As for white wines, the grape varieties initially allowed in this appellation, were Grenache, Clairette and Bourboulenc. But in the last 15 years, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane grapes have joined the ranks. The production of white wine amounts to 5%, but they are varied and rich. The winegrowers’ blends often reserve pleasant surprises with aromatic and well-balanced wines.
The rosé wines, made by the bleeding method, are almost always dominated by the Grenache grapes along with Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan. Wines with character, they conceal their robustness with balance and intense fruit which seduces the consumer.
The Tricastin wines are indeed to be tasted. Little known to the public, due to their newness and limited means, this appellation wine deserves to be better known as they can be impressively compared to their elders. Their personality is well in line with what consumers are looking for in a wine: seductive wines.
Words about...
Where the “black diamond” grows…. In the midst of rows of vine plants, you can sometimes spot an oak tree with precious truffles prospering at its base, one of the other great riches of the Tricastin area.
