Ventoux, the rising star of the Rhône Valley – tasting 24 examples
This article is based on a masterclass with Alistair Cooper at The Decouvertes Vins Rhône festival in Avignon, March 2025, and this was supplemented with further tasting at the fair.
Ventoux is a cru that is neighboured by Châteauneuf and Gigondas, and the cycling-famous Mont Ventoux is a 1900 m peak that even has a small ski resort. It’s the biggest of the crus in terms of area, but it’s not full of vineyardstings aren’t so big. It has 5400 hectares of vines, the same size as Saint Emilion. It’s a diverse area, with lots of different climatic zones, heavily influenced by Mont Ventoux.
Northern Rhône varieties do very well here, says Alistair, whereas they are now struggling in much of the southern Rhône. Viognier does well here but can be oily and weighty elsewhere in the region. AOC status came in 1973, and it was Côtes de Ventoux. This was changed to simply Ventoux in 2009.
What makes Ventoux? It’s climate, says Alistair. The influence of the mountain is important, and this is the coolest climate in the southern Rhône. He adds that, unlike in the rest of the region, climate change has been a largely positive thing for Ventoux. One of the key aspects of the climate here is the diurnal variation, with cool nights. The result is higher acidity, lower alcohol, fresher aromas and aromatic complexity.
Interestingly, there’s some limestone to be found here, although there is quite a bit of variation. There are four main types of soil: siliceous, clayish, calcareous and stony.
Production is 55% red, 35% rosé and 10% white. Grenache is the main grape, but it’s only 55% of red plantings, with Syrah at 28%. Grenache Blanc (33%) and Clairette (27%) are the top whites. 20% of production is organic.
Why is it a rising star? There’s a new generation of winegrowers coming here attracted by the potential for quality and the cost. And the rising quality of the existing producers.
THE WINES
Château La Croix des Pins Ventoux Blanc ‘Le Secret’ 2023
Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Rolle, Roussanne, Clairette. Organic. Silty clay soils. 6 months in small oak. Textured and bright with pear and white peach as well as some bright citrus. There’s a bit of spicy oak in the mix. Nice concentration and detail here, a gastronomic wine. 92/100
Domaine Alloïs Ventoux Blanc ‘Infiniment’ 2024
Rolle, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette. Marl over clay/limestone. Biodynamic. Lovely fruit here with an open, rounded character and some sweet table grape, pear and white peach. It’s open and inviting but there’s some mineral complexity, too. 93/100
Chêne Bleu Ventoux ‘Abélard’ 2015
80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. Marl and stony limestone soils. Organic. This has an intriguing mineral, spicy dimension to it with a savoury, spicy earthy quality as well as nice cherry and berry fruits, with a hint of liqourice and iodine. This is quite developed, but it is ageing in a nice way. Probably at peak now. 93/100
Château Pesquié Ventoux ‘Silica’ 2022
90% Grenache, 10% Cinsault. Sandy soils with some limestone, biodynamically farmed. Ripe and expressive with sweet cherries and plums, showing lovely roundness and intensity, with some sour cherry and plum. Supple with good acidity under the appealing fruit. 93/100
Château Malijay Ventoux ‘Purple de Malijay’ 2023
60% Grenache, 40% Syrah. Clay/limestone soils, in conversion to organics. Lovely freshness here with open, sweet cherry and plum fruit with a hint of olive. Very bright with elegance and beautiful expressive fruit, without being at all heavy. Really beautiful fruit. Pretty and expressive. 94/100
Via Caritatis Ventoux ‘Caritas et Amor’ 2022
95% Grenache, 5% Syrah. This is made by monks and nuns, aided by local winemakers. Clay/limestone soils. Concentrated, ripe, easy and sweet with nice bright cherry and strawberry fruit, with a nice savoury twist on the finish. Lots of fruit here, offering pleasure and drinkability. 92/100
Martinelle Ventoux 2023
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. Organic farming. Clay/limestone soils. Refined, floral cherry and berry fruit on the nose, leading to a fresh, expansive palate. This has some richness and depth with fine, fresh red cherry and raspberry fruit. Some structure, too: very classy. 93/100
Château Unang Ventoux 2022
66% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 5% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre. 30% whole bunch. Sandy limestone soils. This is fresh and expressive with ripe blackberry and berry fruits. It has some grippy structure and notes of dried herbs and pepper, finishing quite dry. This is really good. 93/100
Other wines tasted at the fair:
Domaine Leschancel L’Écrit Rouge Ventoux 2019
Fresh and focused, this is well defined with a nice savoury, spicy edge to the cherry and berry fruit. Vivid and lively. 93/100
Mas des Flauzières La Réserve du Péreyas Ventoux 2023
Supple with lovely cherry and raspberry fruit, showing some brightness. Nice liquorice and pepper detail with good energy. Juicy and alert. 94/100
Domaine Terre de Ghaya Ventoux ‘L’Eveil des Sens’ 2023
Bright, juicy and supple with raspberry and cherry fruit, as well as a hint of cranberry. Some dried herbs and pepper. Midweight with nice drinkability. 93/100
Domaine Fonte Sarade Ventoux ‘Les Terres Rouge’ 2023
Supple with slightly baked plum fruit notes, as well as some bright cherry. Has a core of sweet fruit. 91/100
Domaine des Peyre Ventoux ‘La Gazette’ 2023
Nice density, with fresh, focused cherry and plum fruit, as well as some blackberry. Nice fine spicy detail, with a bit of grip. 93/100
Domaine Alloïs Ventoux ‘Infiniment’ 2023
This is rich but balanced with ripe blackberry and cherry fruit with some dried herbs, fine spices and a twist of liquorice. Nice tannins here. 95/100
Abbayes du Barroux Via Caritatis Ventoux ‘Pax in Terra’ 2023
Sweetly fruited with nice concentration of cherry and berry fruit with freshness and also notes of pepper and charcoal. Stylish. 92/100
Domaine du Bon Remede Ventoux ‘Noblis Terra’ 2022
Fresh with a good concentration of sweet blackberry and cherry fruit with some raspberry freshness. Notes of olives and herbs, with nice structure. 94/100
Château Saint Pons Ventoux ‘Les Justes’ 2023
Ripe, supple and elegant with a strawberry quality and hints of green herbs. The Cinsualt makes its presence known, and this is in a lighter elegant syle, but there is still plenty of flavour. 94/100
Domaine Ferme Saint Martin Ventoux ‘Sur Le Caillou’ 2022
Supple and bright with nice raspberry and cherry fruit with some grippiness. Juicy, nicely savoury and gastronomic. 92/100
Domaine Trelus Ventoux 2022
Fresh, vivid raspberry fruit with a mineral, stony edge and nice intensity. A fresh style. 92/100
Chêne Bleu Ventoux ‘Astralabe’ 2021
Stony and mineral, this is quite textural with warm, rounded strawberry and red cherry fruit with some warmth. Quite broad and deep, with notes of olive, herbs and spice. Nicely complex. 93/100
Domaine Childéric Ventoux ‘L’Envi’ 2021
Supple, juicy and warm with herb-laced cherry and strawberry fruit with nice texture and some olive hints. 92/100
Domaine du Coulet Ventoux ‘Les Deux Frères’ 2021
Bright with nice density of spicy cherry and plum fruit, with some grip. Stony, alert and very stylish. 93/100
Domaine des Anges Ventoux ‘Archanges’ 2021
Ripe and concentrated with nicely chunky fruit. Some sour cherry and plum notes. Lively with an alert finish. 91/100
Domaine du Tix Ventoux ‘L’Affaire Tere’ 2022
Vivid, fresh and ripe with textured blackberry and black cherry fruit with fine-grained structure. Ripe but still well balanced. 95/100
