Domaine de Trévallon Rouge
The jewel of the Alpilles.
A few steps from the charming village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, on the northern slopes of the Alpilles, lies the Domaine de Trévallon. There, limestone is everywhere, it is omnipresent and shapes this rough and dry land.
Around an old "mas", the name given to the farms and peasant mansions of the Provencal region, the vineyard of Domaine de Trévallon today covers over 17 hectares.
It was in 1950 that Jacqueline and René Dürrbach fell under the spell of the Alpilles, of this beautifully preserved piece of nature, and bought the Mas Chabert, located in the commune of Saint-Etienne-du-Grès. In 1960, the couple acquired the adjoining property, Trévallon.
While walking through the garrigue, René Dürrbach already told his son Eloi that this land would make good wine, he knew.
A decade later, the idea took hold and Eloi began planting the first vines in 1973. Thus, 15 hectares of reds, composed in equal parts of Cabernet-Sauvignon and Syrah, and 2 hectares of whites, composed mainly of Marsanne and Roussane, are planted alongside holm oaks, olive and almond trees in a landscape of bright white limestone.
The Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the Trévallon estate has a typical spicy, peppery, and cinnamon flavour. Blended with Syrah, it produces excellent wines. The two grape varieties combined with the limestone terroir of the estate give their unique style to the wines of Trévallon.
Eloi, who has no training in oenology, is driven by the simple desire to make a good, natural wine, that's all. Sure of his choice, and faithful to his convictions, he chooses to downgrade to a Bouches-du-Rhône vin de pays imposed by the INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité) rather than betray the personality of his wines. A change that has not prevented Eloi from raising the Domaine de Trévallon to the rank of the region's most successful red wine producers for 30 years in a row.
The year 2013 was an important year for Trévallon. Indeed, that year, Eloi started to undergo some major renovation work on the estate. These were titanic projects, one of the aims was to integrate the vines into this enchanting landscape. Rocks were blown up, the soil was worked in depth and rock fragments were mixed with the soil.
Beyond this clever mix of rural and contemporary architecture, there is also art. It is omnipresent on the estate, notably through the soul of René, Eloi's father, who died in 1999 at the age of 89.
Painter and sculptor, he was a friend of many accomplished artists, including Albert Gleizes, the pioneer of cubism, Fernand Léger, Robert Delaunay and Pablo Picasso.
In memory of his father, Eloi now preciously preserves some fifty drawings that René made during his lifetime, according to his inspiration with coloured pencils. Thus, since the 1996 vintage, all the labels on the Domaine de Trévallon wine bottles are the work of René. Each year, they are chosen according to best represent and artistically illustrate the vintage.
In addition to the labels, René's drawings also inspired the architect Jean Bosc, who was in charge of the extension and renovation of the estate, and the design of the new winery. The graphic lines of the door are a testimony to these sketches.
The quality of the estate's wines is in direct correlation to the quality of the people who have worked there for several decades. Eloi places great emphasis on the passion and involvement of his team. According to him, they are the sine qua non conditions for making great wines.
Let's proceed to the tasting of Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2018 with our Chef Sommelier:
"Trévallon 2018 is characterised, like all the red vintages of the estate, by a long ageing period, more than 2 years. Racking is limited to the strict minimum, the lees at the bottom of the barrels continue to nourish the wine throughout the ageing process.
To the eye, the colour is intense, deep, a carmine red with purple hues.
The nose is powerful but offers a beautiful elegance. Ripe red and black fruits, enhanced by notes of spices such as white pepper and liquorice, very characteristic of the estate's reds.
The palate is suave and extends to a finish of great quality and nobility.
The balance between freshness, tannins and richness undoubtedly predisposes this 2018 vintage to long cellaring, of at least twenty years."
DOMAINE DE TRÉVALLON - Rouge - Alpilles IGP - Millésime 2018 - Bottle of 75 cl
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