Cuvée Tradition

Composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault grapes from vines between 20 and 60 years old on the Moulin de la Gardette hillsides, at elevations from 100m to 300m. The crop is hand-picked (of course) and 100% destemmed but does not pass through a crusher, so that many of the berries ferment whole. The must is allowed to ferment at its own pace using just the natural yeasts to preserve the consistent Moulin de la Gardette character from one vintage to the next.

The Cuvee Tradition is rich and luxurious with soft tannins and a long finish. It should drink well for the next five years or more.

A very old Grenache vine

Cuvée Ventabren

Jean Baptiste's aim with the Cuvee Ventabren is to produce a wine that will still excite even 20 years after harvest; that may sound like a challenge but, once tasted, one realises that the real challenge will be to keep the bottles unopened in the cellar for 20 years! The cuvée is composed of 70% Grenache from very old vines, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault, with the latter fermented together. Fermentation is long and slow, followed by 12 months ageing in old Allier oak barrels and another 6 months in tank to allow the assembled wine to settle down.

This is a wine that ages gracefuilly, showing fruit and spice in youth and developing more character and complexity with age as the oak recedes. Open the Ventabren in advance and decant to allow it to breathe - you'll not be disappointed!

Syrah grapes ready to harvest

Petite Gardette

This is a wine made from the fruit of young Grenache and Syrah vines, a real Gigondas red but ready to drink right now. All the bunches are destemmed so that the tannins are very soft and the wine inmmediately accessible. Rich with fruit overlaid with cherry jam, treacle and tarry notes, the wine is full, has extraordinary length and is rich and smooth in the mouth. This wine is not just sensous it's sexy!

Cinsault grapes