wine-info

Les Vignerons d’Estézargues

The youthful-looking, energetic and perky Denis Deschamps continues to be on top form at this mini co-operative in a small village in the Gard, just west of Avignon. From the land of just ten vignerons, he crafts wines from shared grapes - the great value cuvées such as the Vin de Pays du Gard and Côtes du Rhône shown below - and also makes wines for the different, privately owned domaines under their own names. All wines are bottled unfiltered, sometimes lending a slightly hazy look, but, more important, a satisfying density and mouthfeel.

With every visit to this mini co-operative - hugely admired within France - we seem to add another of their wines. This year it’s Domaine de Pierredon’s Côtes du Rhône Villages, unusual (and strikingly classy) in that it is a blend of halves of Grenache and Mourvèdre. Buy this for drinking now and for keeping a year or two - it tastes much grander than its appellation implies.

Otherwise we offer: the latest vintage of Les Galets, a cheerful blend of Grenache, Cinsaut and Syrah which makes a really honest, daily drinking wine, which is, if anything, even better than the 2007; the Terra Vitis Côtes du Rhône, from grapes farmed by sustainable, minimal intervention farming discipline, half way to organic viticulture, practiced by five members of the co-operative; and a regular favourite, Jean-Marie Granier’s wine from the plateau at Signargues based on 70% Grenache and 20% Syrah.

Our Favourite Selection