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Chêne Bleu
A wine cellar carved 12 metres deep into solid rock, a former CEO of the London Stock Exchange as a winemaker, and wines from the highest-altitude vineyard in the region: Chêne Bleu estate on Mont Ventoux combines medieval history with modern winemaking art. Since 1993, Xavier and Nicole Rolet have transformed the 600-year-old monastery Domaine de la Verrière into a biodynamic jewel at 630 metres altitude. Jean-Louis Gallucci vinifies Grenache and Syrah here with the precision of a Grand Cru, supported by Zelma Long and Philippe Cambie. The cool nights bestow the wines with Northern Rhône freshness alongside southern fullness – a combination that Michel Bettane celebrated as the "birth of a new Grand Cru".
More about Chêne Bleu
From Stock Exchange to Biodynamic Pioneer
The story of Chêne Bleu begins with an unusual decision: Xavier Rolet, then CEO of the London Stock Exchange, fell in love in 1993 with an abandoned monastery ruin on Mont Ventoux. For 45 years, the 9th-century priory had lain without water or electricity, caught in an inheritance dispute. Together with his wife Nicole, a former political consultant, he transformed the UNESCO-protected estate back to its original splendour through ten years of meticulous restoration. Today, Xavier is not only a winemaker but also a beekeeper on the estate – the bees are an essential part of the biodynamic philosophy that has shaped Chêne Bleu from the beginning.
Altitude Rush on Mont Ventoux
At elevations of 550 to 630 metres, wines are produced here with a unique climate signature: whilst the sun provides Mediterranean warmth during the day, cool nights ensure an extended ripening period and remarkable freshness. This natural air conditioning sits on the same geographical latitude as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, yet the altitude makes the decisive difference. Winemaker Jean-Louis Gallucci, who brings experience from the Loire and Italy, harnesses this particularity for wines such as the Viognier IGP 2023 – a crystalline interpretation of the otherwise often opulent Viognier grape. The neighbouring estate Saint Jean du Barroux also benefits from the special conditions on Ventoux.
Abélard & Héloïse – Love in Bottle Form
The flagship cuvées bear the names of the most famous medieval lovers: Abélard & Héloïse. These wines are produced in a cellar carved 12 metres deep into the rock with a gravity-flow system across four levels – no pumping, no mechanical stress. Each parcel is vinified separately, the grapes selected twice over. The result is wines such as the Astralabe rouge AOC 2019, which combines Burgundian precision with the power of the Rhône. Michel Bettane described these early vintages as the "birth of a new Grand Cru".
Haute Couture Rather Than Mass Production
Chêne Bleu deliberately forgoes AOC classification and instead chooses IGP Méditerranée – pure freedom for uncompromising quality. Nicole Rolet, who completed her wine training at UC Davis and was honoured as a Chevalier de Tastevin, describes her philosophy as "haute couture of winemaking": bespoke, perfectly fitting, never off-the-peg. The Rolets are supported in this by a dream team of the wine world: Zelma Long (former Robert Mondavi cellar master), Philippe Cambie (Rhône guru) and soil experts Claude & Lydia Bourguignon. The result of this collaboration is evident in wines such as the Aliot AOP 2021, which brings the entire finesse of the terroir into the bottle.