Camille Cayran - L'Élégante 2018

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Founded in 1929, the Cairanne cooperative is a major player in the region with its two flagship brands: Camille Cayran for the traditional retail sector and Victor Delauze for mass-market retailers. In 2020, it merged with the Cave de Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes to become Cave de Cairanne Camille & Cécilia. It now encompasses over 1,100 hectares and is expanding its offerings with an organic line.

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

About the estate:

Founded in 1929 in the southern Rhône Valley, the Cairanne cooperative is a model of success. It encompasses 330 hectares, cultivated by fifty-five members, yielding a production of 13,000 hectoliters of wine. In 2014, however, it was selling its production at rock-bottom prices to large retailers, with a debt of 8 million euros. 
To get this old institution back on its feet, the winery hired Denis Crespo as director in 2015. With his intimate knowledge of the vineyard and wine, he succeeded in convincing the members that only quality pays off, by involving them more closely in the winemaking process. The grapes are harvested when ripe, and vineyard work is now done on a plot-by-plot basis. In the cellar, he revolutionized the winemaking process by using minimal sulfites, with some cuvées labeled as sulfur-free to enhance tannin quality. 
 His goal: to achieve better balance. Above all, he has completely rethought the distribution channel, moving away from large retailers toward direct-to-consumer sales, the restaurant industry, and export. The wines have made a huge leap in quality. We commend this collective effort, which has yielded significant results both in terms of wine quality and the long-term viability of the winemakers.

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling