Sommelongue 2022, Côtes-du-Rhône AOC, Domaine André Brunel

Name: Sommelongue 2022, Côtes-du-Rhône AOC, Domaine André Brunel
Brand: L'Esprit du vin
SKU: 930522
Price: 13.20 CHF
Availability: InStock

CHF 13.20

Description

The 2023 vintage, with its cooler weather conditions compared to previous years, allowed the Grenache grapes to retain a great deal of crispness and freshness after vinification. Sommelongue is a rich, fruity, silky wine with a long finish. It is a well-balanced wine with very supple tannins and pronounced notes of spice and licorice.

Food and wine pairings

Enjoy with red meats or grilled vegetable tians.

Sommelongue 2022, Côtes-du-Rhône AOC, Domaine André Brunel

CHF 13.20

To learn more

Viticulture

This single plot of land, located north of Orange, benefits from optimal sunshine, allowing the Grenache grapes to ripen in ideal conditions. The clay and limestone surface soils rest on a subsoil of gravel, which is beneficial for drainage and drying after rain. Controlled cover cropping partially reduces the vigor of the Grenache vines, resulting in moderate yields for good ripeness and balanced wines. The average age of the vines is 40 years. The harvest is exclusively done by hand.

Winemaking

The 2018 Côtes-du-Rhône Sommelongue is vinified in concrete tanks. The grapes are 80% destemmed and then placed in tanks for a short 24-hour cold maceration, followed by a four-week warm maceration with punch-downs and pump-overs. Malolactic fermentation takes place in enamelled tanks for one year.

Domaine André Brunel

The Brunel family's winemaking activity is documented since the 17th century. In 1954, Lucien Brunel established Domaine Les Cailloux. It experienced rapid growth from 1971 onwards under the leadership of André Brunel. He was notably one of the first in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to practice cover cropping and adopt a non-chemical approach to viticulture. In 2012, his son, Fabrice Brunel, joined him to continue the family tradition. The estate comprises 21 hectares in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, including 2 hectares of white grape varieties, spread across approximately ten different vineyard areas.

Southern Rhône Valley

It is one of France's major wine regions, renowned for its many iconic appellations. Stretching along the Rhône River between Vienne and Avignon, it is divided into two distinct parts: the north and the south. The latter is a vast mosaic where the AOCs (Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée) give pride of place to Grenache Noir, primarily blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre. White wines are represented notably by Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne.

In the south, the diverse terroirs of rolled pebbles, sand, and clay produce generous, sun-drenched, and warm wines. The Rhône Valley is also marked by a long winemaking tradition and a strong commitment to respecting the terroir. Many winemakers there now practice sustainable viticulture.