Domaine Santa Duc enjoys a picturesque and idyllic setting at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Located in the Gigondas appellation, the Provence vineyard of Domaine Santa Duc has been in the same family for 5 generations. Their philosophy boils down to one word: respect. Respect for the vines they cultivate, respect for the biodiversity and respect for the soil. The domaine thus follows organic and biodynamic methods. The garpes are picked by hand then destemmed entirely or partially depending on the terroir. Maceration is slow and cold so as to give the wines fine tannins and aromatic complexity. Only native yeasts are used during fermentation and the wines are matured on fine lees and bottled unfiltered. As the great Robert Parker said: “Santa Duc combines the muscle, richness and fire of a classic Giogondas with a degree of elegance and purity that many wines of this appellation lack”.

The Domaine de Santa Duc here offers a wine from the Gigondas appellation. Four of the Rhône’s emblematic grape varieties – Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault – are blended to craft this cuvée, and these are grown across eight different lieux-dits. The vines are 40 years old on average, cultivated in sand- and clay-rich soils covered with chalky stones and marl. The domain has organic certification.
The harvests are completed by hand using small cases, then sorted twice. The bunches are partially destemmed, depending on the vintage. The grapes are placed in the containers by gravity in order to best preserve the fruit. Fermentation in stainless steel vats takes around twenty days, including pumping-over twice a day. Malolactic fermentation takes place, then the wines are clarified in the winter. In the spring, they’re moved to oak casks and terracotta containers for maturation. Bottling is carried out with neither fining nor filtering.
This wine gives off fruity aromas, leaning on vegetal notes in its youth before developing a spicier character over time.