Domaine Santa Duc - The Serre du Rieu 2021
Domaine Santa Duc owns several vineyards in both Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhone Valley. The estate was established in 1874 and since then, six generations of the Gras family have succeeded one another, each making their own contribution to its development. Benjamin has worked hand in hand with his father, Yves, since 2017. After obtaining a degree in oenology from the University of Burgundy in Dijon, his experience was enriched by periods spent in prestigious wine estates such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Bodega Vega-Sicilia. He maintains organic farming , converted the entire estate to biodynamic methods in 2016, and rethinks the range of wines to emphasize local terroirs. Just like his father, he favors the least possible intervention in winemaking and respect for what nature offers.
Le Serre du Rieu is a blend of Clairette (90%) and Bourboulenc (10%) from a 0.5 hectare plot located in the place called Le Serre du Rieu in Roaix on a terroir of fine sand. The vines are around 50 years old. The harvest is manual with sorting in the vineyard, followed by a second on a sorting table. The harvest is put into direct pressing in whole bunches. Fermentation takes place in stoneware jars and demi-muids with daily stirring of the lees. The wine is aged for 10 months on total lees in stoneware jars and Stockinger oak demi-muids of several wines.
Grape varieties: 90% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc