Domaine Bresquières ‘Les Contreforts’ – Ventoux
Producer Details – MADE BY BOUTINOT
The Vineyard
Sourced from a single domaine producing old vine Grenache and Syrah from the ragged, granite foothills ‘les contreforts’ of Mont Ventoux. For those of you not ‘Le Tour’ fans Mont Ventoux is an integral part of the Tour De France and considered by many to be the toughest climb in the race, it rather infamously claimed the life of English cyclist Tom Simpson who died during the climb on July 13th 1967. His death was later attributed to a combination of a stomach bug, heat exhaustion, alcohol and amphetamines so you can’t blame the hill for everything. But it is safe to say it is a well-known feature of the Provence sky-line and is often snow capped in winter. The scenery in summer is quite different – it is hot! The granite slopes absorb the heat and ensure even ripening of the old Grenache and Syrah vines. The chalky soil gives the wine a refreshing astringency which needs time to soften a little.
Once perfectly ripened the grapes are hand picked, traditional cuvaison (fermentation) with remontage (pumping-over) followed by 23 months in oak (around 20% new oak and the rest are 2 and 3 years old barrels).
What does it go with:
Best enjoyed with food – try a warm chorizo and bean salad, pasta, herby sausages, casseroles, steak and kidney pie and traditional french country cooking.
What the Press Said:
2010 Vintage: “Perfume and plums on the nose alongside liquorice and spices, with a hint of mushroom”, “Good silky texture, with fresh acidity and drying tannins” Sommelier Wine Awards 2014
