COUNTRY :
France
REGION :
Rhône Valley
PRODUCTION :
Aurélien and Charlotte Houillon
Aurélien and Charlotte Houillon began their project in Vaucluse in 2017 after having worked for years in the Jura with Pierre Ovenoy and Emmanuel Houillon (Aurélien‘s brother). Here they have taken the same minimalist approach to the winemaking and biodynamics in the vineyards that have made the wines from Ovenoy so legendary (not to mention that other Houillon unicorn, Bruyere-Houillon!)
They have 9 hectares of mostly rescued vines in the village of Faucon, which rests in the shadow of Mont Ventoux.
These are wild wines, but still possess the depth and southern Rhône intensity from the classic grapes of the region (Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault). And, in a nod to just how artisanal and hand made this project is, some of the labels are made from their own papyrus they are screening from scratch in their barn!
Tourmaline Rose
Region: Rhône
Grape: Grenache
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: clay, sand
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press
Aging: 11 months in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added Added S02: none
Le Safre
Region: Rhône
Grape: Grenache Noir
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: red soil
Average Age of Vines: 40-50 years
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole bunches are macerated for two weeks, followed by gentle pressing, maturation in stainless steel vats, and the addition of 4 bars of CO2 in the vat to create the bubbles
Aging: in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Indigo
Region: Rhône
Grape: Syrah, Grenache
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: clay, sand
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: long maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
VDF Rouge
Region: Rhône
Grape: Cinsault
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: clay, sand
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in stainless steel
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Canne Côtes du Rhône
Region: Rhône
Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: clay, sand
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Côtes du Rhône
Region: Rhône
Grape: Syrah, Grenache
Vineyard Size: 9 hectares
Soil: clay, sand
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral barrels with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral barrels
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none