The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called “Galets Roulés” play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.

The years in 9 regularly mark the memory of winegrowers and this vintage was no exception. After an early bud burst in early April, flowering was gradual and took place in good conditions in all the vineyards. Then a hot summer began in late June, which the vines bravely resisted: they suffered little from water stress, thanks to the chamomile herbal infusions we sprayed on the vegetation to cope with the heat. Finally, the harvest went as usual, without any particular precocity. The wines are promising; a vintage in 9 is born, once again, under a lucky star.

Located to the east of the Beaucastel vineyard, Coudoulet stretches across 30 hectares within the Côtes du Rhône appellation. Its terroir of Miocene marine molasse topped with an Alpine diluvium of rolled pebbles, identical to that of Châteauneuf du Pape, gives the wine a unique identity. The hand harvested grapes are carefully sorted, then undergo whole berry heating to 80°C before being cooled to 20°C, followed by a 12 day maceration in concrete tanks. The juices are then pressed and blended variety by variety after malolactic fermentation, before ageing for 6 months in oak foudres, revealing all the elegance and depth of this great Rhône wine.

Superb deep colour. The complex nose offers notes of ripe fruit, spices and flowers. Full bodied and balanced, the palate is very delicate with magnificent aromas of cherries, plums and liquorice and a long finish.