In France’s Southern Rhône Valley, just 12 kilometers east of Avignon, lies Domaine des Garriguettes, a four-generation family winery, in the village of Châteauneuf de Gadagne. Sébastien Clément is a young vigneron handcrafting innovative and fresh expressions that honor the traditions of his Provençal village. The domaine utilizes strictly natural and regenerative farming practices and produces Demeter-certified biodynamic wines from old vines. Made without the use of chemicals or additives, Garriguettes offers wines of exceptional freshness, elegance, and ultimate drinkability; a revelation in southern France. 

Domaine des Garriguettes benefits from the idyllic Mediterranean climate and exposure to the warm southern Mistral wind, both of which provide optimal conditions for organic and biodynamic viticulture. Old olive trees cohabitate among cinsault, grenache, mourvèdre, and syrah vines on the property, many of which have been in the family for generations. Garriguettes was the first vineyard in their village to embrace organic agriculture and continues to be a natural winemaking leader in the region. 

In the cellar, Sébastien works in an intuitive manner with the least amount of intervention possible. Every vineyard and cuvée is handled individually; the only formula at the winery is excellence. Indigenous yeasts are used for alcoholic fermentation for the entirety of the cuvées, and malolactic fermentations are spontaneous and never rushed. Added sulfur dioxide is minimal, if used at all. There is no dogma about sulfur, other than Sébastien endeavors to make the very best, most expressive wine possible, with or without sulfur.

Their top expression of syrah, called ‘Fontisson’ after the French phrase La Fontaine des Blaireaux, or “The Fountain of Badgers,” which is the name for a particularly cool, north-facing parcel (1.3 hectares) containing a freshwater source, surrounded by hedges that draw badgers to the vineyard for the cooler temperatures and water. There is a practical application to this true story, as it proves to be an ideal terroir for syrah, which needs a cooler climate in the southern Rhône to retain acidity and balance. Old syrah clones were planted here in 1972, yielding an unbelievable expression of the grape that displays all of the elegance, freshness, and depth one associates with Hermitage, yet with an unmistakable southern Rhône signature. Fontisson is truly something special and just may be the finest cuvée of 100% syrah in the region. An average of 9,000 bottles are produced each year. 

Vinification – 85% of the wine is handpicked as whole bunches, destemmed, and crushed. 15% is fermented as whole clusters with stems. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks, 28 day maceration of the cap, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation in cement tanks. Aging is one year in concrete vats. Fined and unfiltered.

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