Domaine Raspail-Ay

Domaine Raspail-Ay has been a family-owned estate for five generations, comprising 18 hectares of vineyards, now managed by Dominique Ay. The contiguous plots surround the Domaine Raspail-Ay winery buildings, which are located at the entrance to Gigondas. The soil is clay-limestone with an east-west aspect, ideal for the appellation’s structuring grape varieties (Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre), which have an average age of 45 years. In keeping with the estate’s winemaking tradition—adapted over time to the region’s remarkable natural conditions—the wine produced on the property is exclusively AOC Gigondas (red and rosé), designed to express the terroir.

At Domaine Raspail-Ay, the grapes are harvested by hand, sorted on the vine, and then destemmed before undergoing long vatting (approximately one month) in the family’s traditional vats. The wine from Domaine Raspail-Ay is then aged for 18 to 24 months in old oak casks ranging in capacity from 40 to 130 hectoliters. Consequently, the Domaine Raspail-Ay red Gigondas is ready for tasting two years after the grapes are harvested. With a garrigue-scented nose and a ruby color, the balance on the palate lies between a structure of ripe fruit and spices and refined tannins. The wine can be enjoyed 3 or 4 years after the vintage (depending on the vintage) and can age for up to 15 or even 20 years.