September 29, 2020 by Alyssa Taylor
Domaine Les Semelles de Vent
Domaine les Semelles de Vent is run by Christophe Galon and his wife YuYen. While owner Christophe Galon has been growing grapes on his family’s land for 25 years in Vacqueyras, it was only in 2009 that he took the leap and left the co-operative to venture out on his own. Along with being a winemaker, Christophe is also an artist; he creates all the drawings that go on to each of their beautiful wine labels. His wines are made very traditionally, fermentation in concrete tanks then aging in old oak. The Grenache vines here are all over 60 years old, and the Syrah and Mourvèdre more than 40. The wines are bottled un-fined and unfiltered and are of outstanding quality. The house style is for very pure fruit and gentle extractions. Their Châteauneuf is extremely unique, being made from 100% Mourvèdre.
The largest part of the domaine’s Gigondas vineyard is located on the northern and western hill slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains just above the village of Gigondas. The average level of the parcels is 350 meters high. These parcels organised in terrasses are surrounded by mediterranean forest like an islet in the middle of the wild vegetation. This particular location promotes the natural exchange between the different plants and the grapes. The soil made with blue and grey marns brings the sweet spices notes (cinnamon, cloves) into the wines.
The domaine owns just one parcel located near the Châteauneuf du Pape village area planted with 40 year old Mourvèdre grape variety. The forest and garrigue are laying on three sides. The soil consists of sandstone and rolled pebbles.The austerity of the young wines is balanced by the deep fineness of the aromas of musk, leather and black fruits.
There are different small parcels located all over the appellation Vacqueyras conferring a large diversity of soils. Nearly half of the vineyard is more than 60 years old. The oldest parcel was planted in 1920. The cuvée “Vieilles Vignes” is from the parcels with clay and stones giving some spicy notes as white pepper and fruity notes as cherry and morello.
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