Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières Sablet Blanc “Montmartel”

WHY WE LOVE IT

• Who doesn’t love an intense, mineral rich Rhone white sourced from vines growing on the fluviatile alluvium of the quaternary?

Varietal Composition: 50% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 15% Grenache Blanc, 10% Marsanne

Elaboration: Pressing and fermentation is 20% in new barrels, 80% in stainless steel tanks, no malo.

Tasting Notes: Vivid pale yellow. Stone fruits and floral aromas. Rich on palate, with plenty of mineral showing through. Long.

PRESS

2016 – 91 Wine Enthusiast / 2017 – 88-90 Wine Advocate / 2019 – 90 Wine Advocate

ABOUT THE WINERY

Domaine Notre Dame des Pallières is a very old family estate, whose name comes from a place of pilgrimage visited by the Provençal people in the middle ages who believed that the fountain on the property would protect them from the plague.

Claude Roux and his cousin Jean-Pierre have so many generations of Gigondas wine making experience in their family that they don’t know exactly how many of their relatives have been involved up to now – Antique writings suggest that this Domain existed in the 900’s.  Fortunately this tradition is continuing with Claude’s children, Isabelle and Julien, gradually taking over the day to day responsibilities of farming, production, and administration.

Vineyard holdings total 74 acres in Gigondas, Sablet, and Cotes du Rhone.

When asked about their methods they smile and explain that they are simply following the traditional methods of the family members that came before them.