70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre

DOMAINE BERTRAND STEHELIN
Bertrand Stehelin, winemaker for more than 10 years at Domaine Paillère & Pied-Gû, founded his own brand in 2004. He started with 4 hectares and gradually expanded his estate. He chose to develop a larger range of wine and to focus mainly on export. In addition to working with his family’s estate, Paillère and Pied-Gû, Bertrand Stehelin has also been producing and bottling wine under his own label since 2004. Stehelin farms about 3 hectares in Gigondas and 1.3 hectares in Sablet. His vines in Gigondas are planted between 100 and 300 meters above sea level and are all in the range of 70-90 years old. His vines in nearby Sablet are a bit younger, but the Grenache, which comprises most of the blend, comes from 40 to 60 year old vines planted on gently sloped, sandy soils. The Gigondas ages for two years in foudre, and the Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Sablet’ spends 11 months in concrete.

70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre
Vines are planted between 100 and 300 meters elevation
Vines range from 70 to 90 years of age
The wine spends 24 months in foudre

GIGONDAS IS ONE OF THE SIX CRU APPELLATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN COTES-DU-RHÔNE.

Due to its geographical location, Gigondas benefits from a Mediterranean climate which makes it unique and constitutes an exceptional asset. Indeed, the seasonality of the rains is very marked, the difference in summer temperatures between day and night is significant and the mistral cleanses the vineyard.

The commune of Gigondas is located on the Dentelles de Montmirail massif, the vines of the Paillère and Pied-Gû and Bertrand Stehelin estates are cultivated on an excellent terroir mainly exposed to the northwest. The plots, clinging to the Dentelles de Montmirail where drainage is rapid and exposure to the sun is remarkable, range between 120 and 330 meters above sea level.

Geography forces us to cultivate certain vines on stepped terraces where the stems cling to the hillside by seeking their nourishment from deep down. Soils are very diverse and complex. They have well-marked strata: clay-limestone, alluvial terraces and scree. Drastic climatic and geological conditions and rugged geography favor the development of very red and tannic wines; typical wines from Cru Gigondas.