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From the book: "Grand Bernard des Vins de France"
(Michel Dovaz) |
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"HISTORY OF THE APPELATION"
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| Geology of Châteauneuf-du-Pape ...and of Château de la Gardine History of wine in the Rhône valley is a long story, the longest of France. The Rhône valley indeed may testify a wine-makers heritage which started well six centuries b.C. Here were made wines highly reputed in Rome. Documents or vestiges are missing, nevertheless we can assure that within six centuries, vineyards scattered the rest of the valley. Pline evokes those growing on the Ouvèze river banks, within reach of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In year 500, Grégoire de Tours mentions vineyards around Avignon in a description of the siege laid to the city. In year 908, Emperor Louis the Blind makes present of Bédarrides and Châteauneuf-du-Pape to the bishop of Avignon and half of the tolls collected on the Rhône river. One must wait the revolution, 1791 even, to see Châteauneuf-du-Pape belonging to the French Republic. Besides, local production in former days was lime. In 1213, the village is named as Castrunovum Calcernarium : Châteauneuf "bolted lime". |
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| Châteauneuf met with luck when Popes settled down in Avignon. Clement V, and above all Jacques d'Euze, built up Avignon as well as Châteauneuf. A real court life commanded. Jean XXII set vines on his domain which comprised numerous planted lots after his death . Urbain V stays for a while in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He brings in a vine-plant : the counoise, then he leaves France for Rome. The schismatic Peter de Luna also resides in his castle in Châteauneuf in yaer 1396. Exit with the Popes, they will never come back. |
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| After the Revolution and at least in the 19th century, wine has become the main resource for Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is well known, considered and brings wealth. From then on, every writing celebrates this wine which belongs to the Gotha of French Wines. From the "Grand Bernard des Vins de France" (Michel Dovaz) |
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| Geology of Châteauneuf-du-Pape The soil of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is so famous that no description should be necessary. One has shot so many photographs. Isn't it photogenic ? Did you see this pebbly ground with those gnarled stems ? Indeed, this soil is the most noticeable and spectacular in the world. Is it the only one where Châteauneuf-du-Pape grows ? No. It is the most important et widely known, but Châteauneuf is produced on diverse soils, among them at least three categories : round pebbles as already mentionned gravelly grounds sandy soils Three soils with various quantities of clay and limestone. One may then ask : is there a better soil among them ? |
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In reply to this basic and legitimate question, one must say : no! This is probably one of the keys to the mystery of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Evidence is easily made. Many wonderful wines are brought up from pebbly soils, but the Châteauneuf-du-Pape that the whole world is mad about comes from light and sandy soils ! And one among the internationally reputed wines is produced from a flat open soil with clay and limestone. In addition to these diversified soil characteristics come multiple situations : plateau, banks, hills, flat areas. In this matter also, no superiority can be stated between such and such a situation. A straight forward explanation would be to link soils and situations to a discerning choice of authorised vine-plants. All these possibilities lead to another question : are one given situation and a single soil better for great wines than diverse soils combinated with diverse situations ? Again, one may say : no ! Great wines are possible in any case. It is even rare for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape to be built from grapes all originating from a same soil, even in estates of one block. Very often, vines from various lots are combined to build a unique wine. Vintners of Châteauneuf-du-Pape generally maintain that disseminated vines give better results. You may understand that those who think so will plant disseminated vines... Let us depict the formation of this soil, forgetting the primary era. During the tertiary era, once again, waters submerge the Avignon area. From this time is born the soil of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Great lines are fixed for ever. Apart from tectonic movements, the shape becomes the result of adding alluvium or spreading and substracting erosion. From the "Grand Bernard des Vins de France" (Michel Dovaz) |
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| ...and of Château de la Gardine Giving great care to the nature of soils to select the various plants allowed at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Maxime and Patrick often invited (1965) the gone Dr Dufays, a friend and specialist in this concern, in order to compare the results from various geological situations, helped in this by the "Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières". |
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| Three different soils common to the Appellation can be found at La Gardine : the famous round pebbles (alpin diluvium), miocene and chalky soil (upper barremian). Patrick Brunel likes to say that richness of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintner comes from these differences... The registry of 1810 makes reference to cultivation prior to this date and shows the birth of Châteauneuf's vines, especially in areas such as Combes Masques, Colombis, Grand Devès, La Gardine... "THE APPELLATION IN TWO FIGURES" 13 vine plants 3 different soils 13 millions plants 13 millions bottles |
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