Domaine l'Abbe Dine, Chateauneuf du Pape Red 2023, France

Domaine l'Abbe Dine, Chateauneuf du Pape Red 2023, FranceThe vineyards are covered with large stones and these stones absorb heat during the day and then radiate it over the night, to the benefit of the grapes. The presence of clay underneath the stones mixed with sandy limestone provides a source of humidity for the vines. This type of soil is locally known as safres and tends to bring a supple texture and soft tannins to the wine. The youngest planted are thirty years old vines and the oldest ones are one

The vineyards are covered with large stones and these stones absorb heat during the day and then radiate it over the night, to the benefit of the grapes. The presence of clay underneath the stones mixed with sandy limestone provides a source of humidity for the vines. This type of soil is locally known as “safres” and tends to bring a supple texture and soft tannins to the wine.The youngest planted are thirty years old vines and the oldest ones are one hundred twenty years old, the average is about seventy years old vines. The local wind, the Mistral, is fierce and constantly blowing through the vineyards, greatly reducing humidity. These are ideal conditions to practice Agriculture Raisonne limiting the use of pesticides. Nathalie leaves the weeds in the rows to protect from erosion.

Unusually she doesn’t use any oak; “We want to know what the terroir tastes like. Every plot is different and we want to taste it.” Each vineyard plot is vinified separately, as are the different grapes (though they mostly grow Grenache). Fermentation takes place in steel, and aging in cement before bottling.