Domain: Domaine La Mereuille
Winegrower: Michel Bouyer et Philippe Granger
Town: Orange
Region: Rhône
Appelations: Chateauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône Village
Cultivated Space: 20 ha
Production: 70 000 bottles
Soil: Stony – flinted round pebbles
THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DOMAIN
Domain ” LA MEREUILLE ” whose Provencal meaning is ” the marvel ” is run since 1994 by P. GRANGER .It has been in culture in the family since four generations .The 80 years old wine incorporate 90% old grenache and wine as Syrah , Mourvedre , Cinsault , Carignan . This Domain is situated on the left of the river Rhone , between the municipalities of Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape .It is cultivated according a rational and reasonable manner.
MODE OF DRIVING OF THE VINEYARD, WINE MAKING AND AGEING
In order to obtain a stronger Wine, we sow sheep and poultry’s natural manure. When the cycle of growth starts; we then, begin to work on the “greens”: striping the buds, topping the branches, taking off the leaves, plowing the soil. Since a few years, we can see again butterflies, bees and ladybirds and even some birds’ nest in the vineyard. Animals as rabbits, hares, partriges, and boars are coming back. We hand harvest the grapes, we selected them. We separate the grapes from stalbes stalks keeping only the fruit. This stage of the manufacturing process avoids the presence of acid and astringent sediments which are contained in the stalks. Some of our wines stay in old casks made out of a hundred years old oak. This cask being restored and planned from inside in order to respect the natural micro-oxygenation. They will stay at least 24 months according to the vintage of the years. They will then rippen the sediments; the aromas (cherries, blackcurrants, mulberries) will gain in force with wood flavors of black fruits keeping an aftertaste of leather, bush or spices according to the variety of wood of which the cask is made of.
SOME REFERENCES
Concours des vignerons indépendants, Decanter, Wine Magazine Tasted, Jancis Robinson, Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar , Revue des Vins de France. Robert Parker, Guide Gilbert et Gaillard, guide Hachette des vins, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Wine Advocate, Mondial de Bruxelles, Concours Féminalise
WINES
Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge (90 % Grenache, 5 % Syrah, 5 % Cinsault)
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Baptaurels (90 % Grenache, 10 % Syrah)
Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc (50 % de vielles grenache, 25% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc, 5 % Roussanne) Cotes du Rhône Village Rouge ( 100% Grenache ) Cotes du Rhône Rouge (100% Grenache)
Cotes du Rhône Blanc (50% Grenache Blanche , 25% Clairette , 25% Bourboulenc)