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Domaine des Garriguettes, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Fleur de Lune, 2023

From approximately 50% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc and 20% Viognier, with about 20% of the wine rounded in old oak barrels, this is a fresh and vibrant Côtes de Rhône. 10% of the grapes were picked early to ensure maximum freshness and this really shows. Long and textured, with grapefruit and stone fruit notes, this would stand up to a Sri Lankan fish curry or an Indian Korma well. There is something morerishly saline too. Biodynamic viticulture, as practiced here, brings both balance and energy. Now-2026

“Lemony freshness with a light floral note, but it's delicate white blossom not deep perfume. This is a terrific blend of fresh fruit flavours, especially lemon, grapefruit, but with a light herbal and floral impression on the palate. Firmly textured, almost chewy, and with impressive length. It's intense yet fresh – in an attractive sour-salty way – and VGV. Gentle but palpable grip on the finish. Stone, Vine & Sun's Simon Taylor notes this went with with Sri Lankan fish curry but you could drink this with or without food, but you could not ignore it. 16.5/20, Drink 2024-2026” Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com, 2 November 2024

Lying just to the east of Avignon is the “other” Châteauneuf – the village of Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne which in large part shares a similar terroir to its more famous and much larger appellation to the north, i.e. the vineyards are covered with rounded pudding stones, weathered deposits from the Rhône river. It’s a historic terroir, the wines respected for centuries. 

Young Sébastien Clement now runs the domaine, having gained experience in the northern Rhône, Portugal and Australia. He immediately converted to organic and bio-dynamic viticulture.  Matt Walls, author of the Wines of the Rhône (published in 2021) thinks that “In time, this could be the domaine that finally puts Gadagne on the map”.