Domaine Richeaume - Cuvée Columelle 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vineyard, located at the foot of Mount Sainte-Victoire, belongs to the Hoesch family. It is farmed organically and produces a range of wines, with the reds primarily based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The wines are powerful, well-aged, elegant, and possess 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 “Cuvée Columelle.” A holistic approach, natural winemaking, and organic cultivation in the vineyards are just as important to him as the quality of his wines. Just 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 market the entire 2008 vintage under the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) designation, which replaced 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 fruit, 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 Mount Sainte-Victoire, amid a natural landscape of red soil. Its history dates back forty years. Henning Hoesch, a native of Germany and professor of canon law at the University of Aix-en-Provence, purchased this 65-hectare estate, which at the time was completely uncultivated. He planted 3 hectares of vines, which he cultivated using organic methods (certified in 1972). Very quickly, the wines stood out for their full body 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 minimal intervention in vineyard management are combined with modern winemaking techniques. Consequently, the winery is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that enables the creation of the famous “Les Terrasses” and “Columelle” cuvées, which we rank among the two best red wines of Provence. Depending on the inspiration offered by the vintage, Sylvain, the son, crafts other, more original cuvées that highlight the exceptional plant heritage that makes up the Richeaume vineyard. It should be noted, however, that the prices are becoming very high…