Keys to the vineyard - Visit the vines

At Toure Baume : the finesse and elegance of its 85 years. Their roots have dug deep into the layers of sediment where younger vines can't reach . in 2007 I paid tribute to them by vinifying a special, separate wine 'PREMIERE AUDACE'.

In Condamines : the schist isn't very generous (rarely more than 15hl/ha) but it allows this 18 year old Syrah to thrive, so we forgive it for its apparent meanness !

At St Appolyne: grown on stony, pebbly soil, these young (6 year old) Syrah simply ooze opulence and generosity.

At Bouis, surrounded by garrigue, a patch of 18 year old Syrah grows in red schist : the wine is delicately spicy !

In 2007, I created LA BLACA dedicated to these splendid Syrah grapes which have a personality you simply can't ignore.

You'll discover full fruity aromas in the red 'LE CLOS' and the rosé 'EN TERRASSES'.

The 'oeillade' grape hardly exists nowadays which is why I've asked my plant nurseryman to clone some so that I can begin replanting them. It's my way of passing on some of the region's heritage. Up here, the Oeillade was grown exclusively as a table grape (no longer, it travels badly). But I think it's excellent in wine, interesting fruit, elegant.

The Le Clos wine epitomizes the warmth and openness of these 10 year old Grenache grapes grown on the Serre de Thomas.

On the Condamines schist: here the 20 year old Grenache reaches its full potential : open, complex and elegant with the characteristic aromas of black cherries, prunes, spice.

On the rolled pebbles of LES MAROS , these 25 year old vines face north-east. They mature slowly. I learn to be patient transforming them into wine so as to bring out the full aromatic potential of blackberries, redcurrants, candied pears, slightly peppery.