Domaine Les Pallières - Gigondas Les Racines 2012

Described as a “superb vineyard garden, nestled against the Dentelles de Montmirail,” the Les Pallières estate—owned by the Brunier family and the renowned Kermit Lynch—produces, vintage after vintage, the appellation’s finest Gigondas wines. Facing due north, no fewer than 110 hectares are planted with Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Clairette, and Bourboulenc, in soil with a very high limestone content. The “Les Terrasses du Diable” cuvée comes from the higher-altitude plots, while “Les Racines” is made from the vines surrounding the old farmhouse, where the soil is more clay-rich.

Frédéric and Daniel Brunier (Vieux Télégraphe) have been cultivating these 25 hectares of vineyards since 1998. The vineyards are situated on the northern slope of the Dentelles de Montmirail and planted with old Grenache vines (80%), as well as Surah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Clairette. On this sloping terroir, partially covered with limestone scree and featuring a sandy-clay topsoil, the solution involves creating “stepped terraces” to form a series of horizontal levels that can be plowed and are capable of retaining rainwater.

Under the name Vignobles Brunier, we have brought together the estates of Vieux Télégraphe, La Roquète (renamed Accent de La Roquète starting with the 2011 vintage), and Les Pallières in Gigondas—all owned by the Brunier brothers. Three iconic estates. The splendid pebbles of La Crau, a warm terroir, are the source of the distinctive character of Vieux Télégraphe’s wines. The estate produces a significant and unique cuvée there, characterized by great consistency. Grapes that are lightly destemmed or left whole, aged in old oak casks, yield rich wines that require extended aging to mellow their intensity. Over time, they regain all the minerality of this superb terroir. Located in the center of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the vineyard is primarily planted on the Pielong plateau and in the sandier Pignan district. As for La Roquète, starting in 2011, it became *L’Accent de La Roquète*, produced from the finest grapes. The wines are always straightforward and pure, more elegant than imposing. The remainder is downgraded to the “Le Télégramme” cuvée, a newcomer to the French market. And finally, the Les Pallières estate, a magnificent Gigondas vineyard situated on terraces beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail. The wine expresses itself in a deep, structured style without any heaviness.