Domaine d’Ouréa: The Rising Gem of Côtes du Rhône
Adrien Roustan: A Natural Winemaker in Vacqueyras
Adrien Roustan is an essential young talent to discover. As a winemaker at Domaine d’Ouréa, primarily within the Vacqueyras appellation, he has already captivated sommeliers, wine merchants, and restaurateurs in his region.
Diligent, conscientious, and humble, Adrien is passionate about vines and nature. He cultivates these plots naturally, seeking the perfect balance between grapes and terroirs to craft artistic, elegant, refined, and light wines. This small 20-hectare estate continues to gain renown with wines that delight tasters. In short, a true gem, as they say in the industry.
Domaine d'Ouréa: « Bespoke Organic »
Adrien has cultivated a passion for viticulture since childhood. When he took over the vineyards of Domaine d'Ouréa, which belonged to his grandfather, he reinvigorated the estate. Transitioning from traditional and conventional practices, he initiated a shift towards highly natural and authentic methods. He certified the estate as organic, stating: « I work with my vines as naturally as possible, without the use of chemical or synthetic products »; and he goes further by limiting inputs to prevent soil pollution. He pertinently emphasizes that « working naturally does not impede the soil's biological cycle. Pure soil yields grapes with true flavor ».
According to Adrien, « to produce quality wines, one must adhere to fundamental principles: cultivating the vineyards organically or naturally; utilizing high-quality, well-suited grape varieties obtained through meticulous selection; conducting manual harvests; performing vinifications without the addition of enological products; and possessing an artistic sensibility ».
While highly pragmatic, the young winemaker also imbues his work with a philosophical dimension: « I consider myself an artist of wine. Each new vintage is a blank canvas upon which everything will be inscribed. One must accompany nature to craft a unique wine. »
Adrien Roustan: The Tiller of the Soil
« What I appreciate most about being a winemaker? It's the work with the vines. One believes them dormant in winter, yet they awaken each spring in a uniquely different way. I am always moved ».
Thus, daily emphasis is placed on working the plots, the soil, and the grapes. « The most crucial aspect is the work of the vine and the soil. The objective is to cultivate soil with character, a living soil ». Thanks to soil amendments and manure, the vineyard soils of Domaine d'Ouréa ensure high-quality grapes. Highly meticulous, Adrien rejects mechanical cultivation, working each vine stock manually and individually. Soil cultivation is performed with a horse, a gentler approach than mechanization, to avoid harsh treatment of the soil and vine stocks. « We work bespoke: vine stock by vine stock; vine by vine, soil by soil. »
Beyond that, the perfect synergy between meticulously selected grape varieties and their respective terroirs contributes to the success of these wines. « Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault are planted at their northern cultivation limit. In these terroirs, they achieve a very fresh ripeness, expressing significant finesse and elegance. »
In the cellar, the principles remain consistent: vinifications are conducted very naturally. The indigenous yeasts work sequentially during alcoholic fermentation: « each yeast strain works in its own time, contributing its specific characteristics, aromas, and originality ». Interventions are minimized with the aim of producing wines that reflect their terroirs, expressing « the taste of the place where the grapes were born. »
The Wines of Domaine d'Ouréa
Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:
From Vacqueyras to Gigondas: Wines that Express Their Terroirs.
The wines of Domaine d'Ouréa mirror the winemaker, his work, and his philosophy: « if you produce overly academic wines, they might be interesting initially, but they will eventually tire, first you, then enthusiasts. Striving to create one's own wine and having a distinct philosophy—that is what is truly engaging. »
Domaine d'Ouréa offers four wines. One white wine – a single varietal Clairette from the Vacqueyras appellation – and three red wines:
- The flagship cuvée of Domaine d'Ouréa is from the Vacqueyras appellation: « These are clay-driven wines, expressive, very approachable for the consumer, and tactile. The diversity of the soils makes for very complex wines » explains the winemaker. The 2014 vintage was described by Parker as a sensational cuvée, with a deep red color, aromas of black fruits, licorice, and Provençal herbs. The cuvée is primarily composed of old vines – some dating back to 1918 – of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%), Carignan, and Cinsault. The grapes are co-fermented to impart great coherence to the wine.
- A cuvée from the Gigondas appellation. The mountain vineyards on limestone rock yield wines of great finesse, beauty, and nuance. « They are less overtly expressive than the Vacqueyras wines, but they possess significant class and are very refined. »
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The Tire Bouchon cuvée is crafted from old Œillade and Aramon grape varieties. These are « wines characterized by tenderness, lightness, and always a great deal of charm, » Adrien confides.
« The 2016 vintage will be exceptional »
« 2016 was a very pleasant surprise. We experienced a somewhat dry year and a spring with beautiful warmth. Healthy grapes reached optimal ripeness with moderate alcohol levels, yielding wines of great lightness. We have achieved beautiful, simultaneously silky and deep colors, with tender and well-integrated tannins. Aromatically, the wines are precise and very inviting. It's a truly great vintage. We were fortunate. It's going to be exceptional. We worked diligently, and our efforts have paid off; we will be proud of these wines. »
Don't wait any longer to discover the wines of this estate on the Les Grappes website!
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