Domaine de la Pigeade Ventoux Les Sables 2020
Regular price $29.00
Unit price per
40% Grenache, 30-40% Carignan, 20-30% Syrah (oldest vines 1960s) hand harvested then destemmed, from clay-limestone soils, pre-fermentation cool maceration, 3 week thermo-regulated vinification, cap punchings, pumping overs, vat raised 6 months, called Classique until early 2010s, filtered, “serve lightly chilled with summer barbecues”, 10,000 bottles. John Livingstone-Learmonth - Drinkrhone.com
'The benchmark name for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise' John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com.
Very little sweet Muscat was made before 1945 when Muscat de Beaumes de Venise was classified an AOC for its vin doux naturel, but by the 1970’s and 1980’s its popularity in northern Europe was probably greater than Sauternes or sweet German wines. The wines, by law, must have an ABV of 15% and at least 110g/L residual sugar. Domaine de la Pigeade was purchased by the Vaute family in 1960 who came from wine families but this domaine was the first generation of winemakers. Up until 1996 all fruit from the 25ha estate was sent to the cooperative but with the succession of the second generation, Thierry and his wife Marina, a cellar was built and the wine-making was brought in house. The domaine sits outside the village of Beaumes, which is sandwiched in between the Dantelles de Montmirail and Mount Ventoux. Of the 25ha around 20 are Muscat blanc à petits grains averaging 35 years of age. The vines are planted on a argilo-calcaire and all weed control is manual. The fruit is harvested at a very low 30hl/ha.