A profound, mature white wine from Mont Ventoux, made from vines of Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc over 50 years old, revealing its complex grandeur after nine years of ageing.
Bottler: Saint Jean du Barroux, Chemin de Saint Jean, 84330 Le Barroux / France
In the glass
Colour
Intense, luminous golden yellow, already heralding its extended maturation visually.
Nose
Complex, mature bouquet with notes of vanilla and pear cream, accompanied by ripe orange, delicate curry spice, saffron, and hints of aniseed and fennel.
Palate
Round, succulent and silky with ripe white-fleshed fruit, spicy herbal notes and pronounced minerality; saline, piquant and impressively long on the finish.
Character
A taut, elegant white Rhône wine with body and depth that, despite nine years of ageing, remains utterly present and vibrant – powerful yet never opulent.
Pairing
Ideal with pan-roasted turbot or sole with herb butter, light meats such as loin of veal with morels, or mature hard cheese.
Notes
Philippe Gimel held this wine back for nine years before release – a rare testament to the value of maturation. Extremely low yields of just 20 hl/ha and the avoidance of oak in favour of stainless steel and concrete underscore the purist philosophy behind this exceptional Ventoux white.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Intensely luminous golden yellow – the colour of nine years of patience spent in bottle before Philippe Gimel deemed it ready.
Nose
Aromas of pear cream and vanilla, behind which lie ripe orange, a hint of curry and saffron, along with aniseed and fennel. Mature yet far from tired – rather like a wine that has taken its time to reflect.
Palate
Round, silky, succulent. White-fleshed fruits meet fennel seeds and aniseed, while a fine salty note runs through the long, mineral finish. Powerful without heaviness, present without being intrusive.
Finish
Long, saline, savoury – a finale reminiscent of stone and herbs that lingers for minutes afterwards.
Terroir & origin
The vines are planted high on Mont Ventoux, between 300 and 500 metres, where cool nights bestow upon the wines a freshness rarely found in the southern Rhône. The soils alternate between light, sandy layers and dark, stony ones – a geological mosaic once mapped by Claude Bourguignon.
Grape varieties & vinification
Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc from vines over 50 years old, fermented and aged in stainless steel. Yields of just 20 hectolitres per hectare – extremely low even for this region.
Food recommendations
With pan-fried turbot and fennel vegetables, chicken in lemon and olive sauce, or a mature Comté. Also an exciting combination with roasted cauliflower and tahini.
Special features
Philippe Gimel held this wine back for nine years – a decision that makes him appear something of an “alien” in the region. The result: a white Ventoux that drinks like a mature Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with the freshness of high altitude and a depth capable of lasting for decades to come.
