Distinctive Cotes du Rhone Wines from France: Domaine des Girasols Rasteau

Domaine des Girasols
Technical Data
Cotes du Rhone Villages

Vintage 2004 Rasteau
Blend 52% Grenache
20% Cinsault
17% Syrah
6% Carignan
5% Mouvedre
Alcohol 14%

Cellar Potential 7 – 8 Years
Only 120 cases available in the US

VINIFICATION: As the grapes arrive at the winery, we create the blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Mouvedre. The whole clusters are placed in fermenters via gravity where they undergo a semi-carbonic maceration with twice daily pump-overs. After fermentations and several months of tank aging, the Syrah is added to the final blend. The wine is aged for two years in cement tanks prior to bottling. Raspberry, red currants and spice are the resulting flavors.

HISTORY: Located in Rasteau, the Joyet family produces red and rosé Cotes du Rhone and Rasteau Villages controlled appellation wines and Vin Doux Naturel which is produced with the renowned grenache grape. The owners, Paul and Marie-Elisabeth,handed over the destiny of this private cellar to their two daughters. The cultivation of the vineyard and vinification is undertaken by Francoise with counseling from the same onologue since 1979. Marie-Elisabeth, who has passion for patchwork, handles hospitality and the original collection of patchwork quilts which guests can see on a visit to the winery.

THE VINEYARD: The Rasteau vineyard covers 1240 hectares of vineyards. The Domaine des Girasols occupies 17 hectares that are particularly well situated as it has southern exposures, protected from the Mistral, and is on terraces and slopes with clayey calcareous soils covered with rounded stones. The newly planted vines (March 99) mingle with the elder 87 year old gnarled vine stocks. The yield is low: a 36 hl/ha average to 25 hl/ha for the “old Grenaches” of Malalangue (name given to the place in the 17th century). The Grenache accounts for 58% of the vineyard grape varieties (17% Cinsault, 11% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 4% Carignan).

This wine is available in the US through EYE ON WINE
Contact – Gordon Larum * Call 707-815-2619