Domaine Richeaume - Cuvée Columelle 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vineyard, located at the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, belongs to the Hoesch family. It is farmed organically and produces a range of wines, with the reds primarily made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The wines are powerful and well-aged, combining elegance with just the right amount of fresh fruit.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

In 1972, Henning Hoesch and his wife Julia discovered this abandoned estate at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire cliff. They replanted the vineyard and began cultivating their first organic plots on three hectares of land. Over the years, they created large terraced plots on the most promising terroirs, which today produce the grapes for the estate’s premier wines, “Les Terrasses” and the “Cuvée Columelle.” A holistic approach, natural winemaking, and organic viticulture are just as important to him as the quality of his wines. As enthusiastic as his father, Sylvain Hoesch, born in 1970, joined the estate in 2001. He manages the estate and the vineyard, which now spans 27 hectares, with the same rigor and commitment to quality as his father. He decided to classify the entire 2008 vintage under the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) designation, which succeeded the "Vin de Pays" designation.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

We were pleasantly surprised by the reds, which are much less oaky. The 2012 Columelle has appealing fruitiness, with a touch of acidity on the finish.

About the estate:

This estate is beautifully situated in the village of Puyloubier, at the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, amidst a natural landscape of red earth. Its history dates back forty years. Henning Hoesch, a German native and professor of canon law at the University of Aix-en-Provence, purchased this 65-hectare estate, which was then completely uncultivated. He planted 3 hectares of vines, which he cultivated using organic methods (certified in 1972). Very quickly, the wines distinguished themselves through their full-bodied intensity and power. In the years that followed, their style became more refined through better-controlled winemaking and oak aging. As with the greatest winemakers, respect for the soil and non-intervention in vine cultivation are combined with modern winemaking tools. Thus, the winery is equipped with high-performance tools that enable the creation of the famous Les Terrasses and Columelle cuvées, which we rank among the two best reds in Provence. Depending on the inspiration offered by the vintage, Sylvain, the son, crafts other, more original cuvées, highlighting the exceptional plant heritage that makes up the Richeaume vineyard. It should be noted, however, that prices are becoming very high…