Domaine Houillon "Le Safre"

Grapes: Grenache Noir

Region: Rhone, France

Vintage: 2020

Viticulture: Organic + Biodynamic

Soils: Red Clay

Vinification: Whole bunches are macerated for two weeks, followed by gentle pressing, maturation in stainless steel vats, and the addition of 4 bars of CO2 in the vat to create the bubbles

Aging: Neutral barrel

Fining or Filtering: None

Sulfur: None

Notes from the Importer:  Aurélien and Charlotte Houillon began their project in Vaucluse in 2017 after having worked for years in the Jura with Pierre Ovenoy and Emmanuel Houillon (Aurélien‘s brother). Here they have taken the same minimalist approach to the winemaking and biodynamics in the vineyards that have made the wines from Ovenoy so legendary (not to mention that other Houillon unicorn, Bruyere-Houillon!)

They have 9 hectares of mostly rescued vines in the village of Faucon, which rests in the shadow of Mont Ventoux.

These are wild wines, but still possess the depth and southern Rhône intensity from the classic grapes of the region (Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault). And, in a nod to just how artisanal and hand made this project is, some of the labels are made from their own papyrus they are screening from scratch in their barn!