Maison des Vins in Pierrefeu

Another free tasting "Wine House" , this one for Pierrefeu wines . Pierrefeu is a nice provencal village north east of Toulon , about 20 km from the mediterranean sea . Pierrefeu (map) is one of the 5 Cotes de Provence wine sub-appellations ( the others are : Frejus , La Londe les Maures , Montagne Sainte Victoire , and Sainte Baume ) wich should in the coming years get their separate label . So , Pierrefeu-Cotes de Provence wine producers have a front window with this Maison des Vins , conveniently situated on Pierrefeu main street , facing the central parking lot from wich you can enjoy the panoramic view over the Maures mountain range . Here you can taste Pierrefeu wines for free, and buy the bottles (if you want to) at the producer's price . This is a bargain . Phone is : 04 94 28 11 89 . Mireille Mann, who operates the Maison is a warmful young woman from Alsace who settled with her husband in the region . Both are from alsatian families deeply rooted in the wine world . When I first came here last year , I asked if she was From Alsace by chance . I had recognized the intonation peculiar to this part of France . She was surprised that I noticed it . I lived in Alsace several years and it is still my home "quelque part" as we say in France .Mireille Mann (left) Mireille Mann has answers for the many questions we have and knows about the different wine cultures of the Domaines, and also about the grape varieties , the geological influences on the wines . She tells us about the climate last year and in 2002, and of its impact on the wines . 2002 was rainy in the Pierrefeu area . Some of the grapes were rotten . Good wines were nonetheless produced this year . And last year , in 2003 , big forest fires on the other side of the Maures mountain range pushed many wild boars on this side of the mountains , and in the Pierrefeu vineyards . Even without forest fires , wild boars do a lot of damages in Provence vineyards . They usually descend nightly from the mountains and eat as much as they can . Vegetation in the mountain is very dry and the vineyards are easy food in contrast . It is common to see electrical fences along vineyards close to the first slopes of the mountains . So in 2003 , such damages were increased indirectly by the fires . There are 3 ways to vinify here : __ Direct pressing . Minimum colour given to the wine . Clear colours . This is a white wine vinification except it is also applied to red wine grapes . __ Bleeding . Grapes in the vats . Then maceration time between 4 hours and a day . Then , open and let the first juice out . The rest goes for the reds . __ Skin maceration ( thermoregulated ) Here the harvest begins early september . Reds are often done last . 2003 was a superb year for perfectly matured and healthy grapes here . Now tasting time . Our host looks for a wine to begin with and respect an tasting order . Here there are no rotating tasting list , so you can basically taste any wine the Maison has in its selection .

We first taste wines from vineyards in plains :__1__Domaine de Carrat rose 2003 . Direct pressing . 80% Grenache 20% Cinsault . 6 Euro . Limestone & sandstone influence . With seafood and as aperitif . Nice . Mireille Mann explains us the two different soils in Pierrefeu : Inland side is the permian depression . Seaside : Tight and vertical schists . these differences translate into the wines .
__2__ Domaine de Peirecedes rose 2003 . "Cuvee Ariane" Mourvedre majority . "Saignee" or bleeding wine .5 Euro .
__3__ Domaine de Peigros rose "Cuvee Elegance 2003" Bleeding cuvee . 6 Euro. Long in the mouth .Cherries .
__4__ Chateau de l'Aumerade rose Cru Classe 2003 ."Seigneur de Piegros" . 8,1 Euro . Skin maceration , low temp . Aromatic nose . Impressing . Results from the low temp maceration . Clear colour (pale salmon) . Specially designed bottle [see picture on left]. This Domaine has altogether 550 hectares, of wich 89 in Cru Classe . It was already well known in the french kings era, especially when King Henri IV discovered it in the 16th century .
Now we taste wines from vineyards on the slopes : __5__ Domaine de peirecedes rose 2003 "Regue des Botes" Shcists and slopes . 6,2 Euro . Very mineral . Different from the others .
__6__ Domaine la Tour des Vidaux rose 2003 "Farnoux" . Schists . Vineyards on a sort of amphitheater . 6,25 Euro .
__7__ Chateau la Tour de l'Eveque rose 2003 "Petale de Rose" . 8,4 Euro . On schists also . This Domaine started making very clear roses 20 years ago . Owner is a woman named Regine Sumeire . Low acidity . Round . I think we'll try to visit her some day...
We now taste the reds : __8__ Domaine de Peigros red 2001 "Prestige" . Almost only Grenache . Peigros vineyards are in the plain between Pierrefeu and the mountain range . 5 Euro .
__9__ Domaine de Peigros red 2001 "Debut de Siecle". Mostly Syrah . Woody, but I like it . 8 Euro . I discovered Domaine de Peigros wines in this very Tasting House a year ago with the basic red 1999 . I bought a case then and did not regret it . I am going to visit the place .
__10__ Vignobles Kennel red 2001 . Nice . Really good .Vineyards in the plain . 6 Euro . Syrah-Grenache .Aged in casks (not new ones) .
__11__ Chateau la Gordonne red 2001 "Les Marronniers" . Oak casks . Cabernet Sauvignon . Vineyards in the plain . 5 Euro .
__12__ Domaine de Carrat red 2001 . Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah-Grenache . On slopes . 6 Euro .
__13__ Domaine La Tour des Vidaux red 2000 "Tourelle" . Carignan-Grenache . Oak casks . 5,8 Euro . You recognize the Carignan style . Organic viticulture . Biodynamy . Good value wine .
__14__Chateau la Tour de L'Eveque red 2001 . Also on slopes . Syrah majority . Black fruits . Liquorice . 9,2 Euro .
__15__ Domaine La Tour des Vidaux red 2001 "Cuvee Farnoux" Syrah-Cabernet Sauvignon . Also in biodynamy . Slopes . 9,7 Euro . Very correct wine . My choice .
__16_ Domaine de la Broquiere red 2001 "Cuvee terres rouges" (means "red soil"). Back to the plains . 6,4 Euro .
__17_ Domaine de Peirecedes red 2000 "Regue des Botes" . Dense colour . Organic (Terra Vitis) chart . 13,5° . Almost only Mourvedre . 8,7 Euro .
Thank you very much to Mireille Mann who gave us a lot of her time and succeeded to take care of other visitors at the same time ...

Comments

[lester]

i would like to know if a 2002 bottle of vignobles francois ravel pierrefeu-var is a good bottle of wine and the value of it