Rhône discovery (4) Château Pesquié, one of the leading lights in Ventoux
Website: https://chateaupesquie.com/en/welcome/
The Chaudière family farm 100 hectares of vines in Ventoux. They are based in the village of Mormoiron in the heart of Ventoux. The current generation, Alexandre and Frédéric Chaudière, farm these vineyards biodynamically. This is one of the best – and most important – domaines in Ventoux.
I tasted these wines with Frédéric, who explained that their transition to farming biodynamically was a journey shared by many in the appellation towards organics and beyond. ‘There is a growing organic movement in the Ventoux,’ he says. ‘I would say close to a third of the independent wineries are organic, and very soon it will be above half of them. 16% of the total surface is organic, and this will soon be above 20%. At Pesquié it is a bit of a longer story. The first blocks we certified were in 2007, and we started experimenting with biodynamic practices in 2015. It is only since 2018 that the farming practices of the estate have been certified by Demeter. There is much less biodynamic farming than organic farming in the Ventoux.’
THE WINES
Château Pesquié Cuvée Juliette Ventoux Blanc 2021
13% alcohol. 70% Clairette and 30% Grenache Blanc on limestone soils, fermented in concrete egg then goes to demimuids with thick (42 mm) staves for ageing. Delicate, pure and quite fine with a nice acid line and mineral streak under the pear and lemon fruit. Hints of green apple. Such purity and precision, and I reckon it will age in interesting ways. 94/100
Château Pesquié Ventoux Rosé Quintessence 2022
Grenache noir 70%, Cinsault 20%, Clairette 10%. Pink/orange in colour. This is a complex, textured gastronomic rosé with a core of sweet strawberry fruit and some fine herbal hints. Lively but also with some depth, it also has some salty minerality. Utterly compelling. 93/100
Château Pesquié Silicia Ventoux Rouge 2021
15.5% alcohol. 90% Grenache, 10% Cinsault, from sandy soils. 70% concrete, 30% 600 litre barrels. Cherry red in colour with fresh aromatics of floral cherry fruit leading to a palate that shows fresh strawberry and cherry fruit with some pepper and grainy tannins. Such freshness despite the elevated alcohol, with a core of fine, sweet fruit. 95/100
Château Pesquié Artemia Ventoux Rouge 2014
This is from Pesquié’s oldest single vineyard, and it’s a 3 ha plot of limestone gravel on a small plateau at 400 m. 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache, all destemmed. Olive, spice and meat on the nose with some pepper and nice evolution. So floral and fine. There’s a sense of precision on the palate with good acidity and notes of olive, spice and herbs. Drinking beautifully now. 95/100
Older notes:
Chateau Pesquié Quintessance Blanc 2020 Ventoux, France
13.5% alcohol. 80% Roussanne, 20% Clairette from limestone soils. 600 litre barrels and concrete eggs. Textural with lovely freshness, and some pear and spice as well as white peach and citrus. Has good intensity and an appealing mineral edge. Very fine. 93/100
Chateau Pesquié Cuvée Juliette Blanc 2020 Ventoux, France
13% alcohol. 70% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc. Fresh and layered with a hint of honey, spice and some melon. Very stylish with lovely pear fruit and nice intensity, and a brisk finish. Lots of weight on the palate. 93/100
Château Pesquié Silica 2020 Ventoux, France
Light extraction with cap wetting only. Aged in 600 litre barrels (75%) and concrete egg (25%). 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault. Supple, fine and really elegant with a bit of spicy grip as well as sweet, elegant red cherry and plum fruit. So expressive with a liquorice edge to the fruit. Rounded and elegant. 94/100
