|
Domaine de Marcoux
Catherine and Sofie Armenier
198 Chemin de la Gironde, 84100 Orange
Tel. +33 490 346 743
Direct sale: Yes, but best to make an appointment. For sale at
Vinadea
Mail: info@domaine-marcoux.com
Web: http://www.domainedemarcoux.fr
The Armenier family has been present in
Chateauneuf du Pape for centuries.
The name is mentioned in documents from 1344 as the first known written
registry of landowners in possession of vineyards that
formed the basis for the
bishopric (Avignon) charging
of land taxes.
A few curiosities listed
on the domain's website:
In 1681 an
ancestor excused Guiilaume Armenier
reelection as first
consul in Chateauneuf
du Pape, because his personal
expenses to hold the office
was beyond his financiel abilities.
In 1688, he let himself
be re-selected. During
the plague of 1721
the first victim in Chateauneuf
du Pape was a forefather
Bartholomee Armenier.
Until the late 1990's Marcoux was run by Phillipe Armenier. The bio-dynamic principles
inspired by Rudolf Steiner meant very much to him. The planning of the work
in the vineyards and the cellars were done out from the phases of the lunar
cycle. In connexion with this the practice in the vineyards of course was
(and stil is) strictly organic. Suddenly Phillipe Armenier left the domaine
- and France. Today he lives in California. Since Philippe left France the
domaine has been run by his two sisters Catherine and Sofie Armenier. They are perhaps not quite as
focused on stars and planets as Phillipe but bio-dynamic principles also
means a lot to them. Catherine is responsible for the vineyards and Sofie for
the vinification. They both do it with great succes.
Marcoux covers 17.5 ha of Chateauneuf du Pape, 0,85 ha of them with white varieties. The average age is about 50 years.
5.5 ha are 60-110-years-old. Half of these old vines are used for Vieilles Vignes. The rest goes to the classic cuvée.
The
principles can be described by quoting Sofie Armenier: “We
interfere with the vinification as little as possible. We don’t do any pigeage
to get colour, because we just don’t want to get in the way of the fruit.”
From 2 ha in Orange is made Cotes du Rhone and furthermore a Lirac from 8 ha of
this appellation.
The vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape and Orange have been certified agriculture
biologique since 1991. Those of Lirac since 2010.
Wines
Chateauneuf du Pape
2017: 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 7% Syrah
and 3% Cinsault..
Vinification in cement tanks and maturing is mainly done here but a
part of the cuvée is aged in barrels of 350 l.
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes
2017: 100% Grenache. Mixed planting with some Mourvedre and other varieties.
Tht vines are grown at two different lieux dits, 2,32 ha at Charbonnières
planted 1900, 1,13 ha at Les Esqueirons planted in 1900 and in 1949.
Age in wooden casks for 18 months. Max. 4000 bottles made
Only 4.000 bottles made. The rest of the wine are used for the classic cuvée. Chateauneuf
du Pape Blanc
2018: 65% Roussanne and 35% Bourboulenc. (from 2020 also
Clairette)
Roussanne is from 0,5 ha at
Les
Esqueirons, planted in 1987 and Bourboulenc from 0,35 ha at Les Bosquets
planted in 1982. Cotes
du Rhone
2018: 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. Lirac La Lorentine
2018: 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 25% Mourvedre.
VDF Raisin de Loup
Grenache, Syrah, Caladoc
VDF Blanc Raisin de Loup
100% Clairette.
|
