Les Vignerons D'Estezargues, Carambouille, Vignerons D'Estezargues, Rhone Valley, France, 2023

Overview of the Wine
Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues is a co-operative cellar in the small town of Estézargues, very close to Avignon and the Pont du Gard in the southern Rhone valley. All over France, the co-op still plays a very important role in the production and sale of wine. Co-ops typically receive grapes from their members and then make wines from them in large batches, not mentioned vineyards or winemakers. The wines are sourced from many different vineyards from all over the region and typically the focus is on quantity. Not quality.

Estézargues was established in 1965 and, as early as the 1980s, shifted towards natural winemaking thanks to the arrival of Jean-François Nicq, a talented winemaker influenced by the ideas of natural wine legends like Marcel Lapierre. Nicq (now making wine in his own boutique Domaine des Foulards Rouges in Roussillon) put the cave firmly on track towards respectful farming and practically no additives in the cellar. No commercial yeast, no enzymes, no gum arabic, no acidifiers, and also almost no sulfur. “We use a minimal amount of SO2 at bottling if needed, to make sure the wines are safe even when exported overseas, but that’s it,” says Armelle Rouault, current winemaker at Estézargues.

Organic

Chillable Red

Winemaker
Armelle Rouault

Grape / Blend
70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Cinsault, 6% Carignan, 4% Mourvedre, and 1% Counoise

Origin
Rhone Valley, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The color is translucent ruby. The nose is generous, with fresh cherry, raspberry and some spices. The palate is round, fresh, crunchy, with a supple and delectable substance, bursting with fruit... and a high risk of addiction. The deliciously naughty grip on the finish doesn't help matters: the fruit and freshness go up a notch, as does the gluttony. Warning, dangerous product!. For anyone looking for a chillable, crushable delicious red to consume during warm weather – look no further.

 Product size: 750ml