Our Growers:

Cave TerraVentoux

The Cave TerraVentoux was created in 2003 with the marriage of 2 quality-oriented cooperatives in the Rhone Valley in the foothills of the Mont Ventoux: Cave des Roches Blanches and Cave de la Montagne Rouge. The domain has 1200 hectares in 8 different communes: Mormoiron, Villes sur Auzon, Flassan, Bedoin, Blauvac, M?hamis, Carpentras and St Pierre de Vassols. With the climate of Provence and the protection from the mistral by Mont Ventoux, the vines benefit from 2700 hours of sunshine per year and an incredible biodiversity of soils, from sandy hillsides to limestone plateau to rocky riverbeds. The cooperative produces 5 million bottles annually from 50,000 hectoliters of grapes.

The Cave TerraVentoux rouge is a gentle but very fruity blend of Syrah (25%) and Grenache (75%) with enough tannin and acidity to keep it fresh and appetizing. The wine is vatted for 10 to 12 days in stainless steel vats to conserve the fruit and is racked once or twice daily for supple tannins. Wine Spectator (June 15, 2008) says of this wine: "This has nice polish, with fleshy cherry and plum fruit backed by a layer of tobacco and mineral. The tasty finish fleshes out."

The Terra Ventoux Cotes du Ventoux rose is a saigne ros made from 40% Syrah and 60% Grenache. It is aged in concrete epoxy tanks. The nose is clean and expressive with aromas of red fruit--cherry sweets and wild strawberries. Use it as an aperitif or pair it with delicatessen meat, grilled seafood, fish in a tomato sauce or grilled vegetables.

The Terra Ventoux Cotes du Ventoux blanc is made from 50% Grenache and 50 Clairette. It is a pale yellow color with green tints and has a nose of white flowers with a hint of aniseed. Use it as an aperitif or with grilled seafood, a salmon quiche or Thai food.

The Terres de Truffes is the premium cuvee of the Terra Ventoux line and is made from 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. The Grenache vines are over 30 years old. The Grenache is vatted in concrete epoxy and the Syrah in stainless steel; both grape varieties are vatted for 20-30 days with daily racking. Wine Spectator (June 15, 2008) says of this wine: "Plum and round, with red licorice, cherry, plum sauce and tar flavors that roll through the fleshy, medium-weight finish." The French Folies line of easy-to-drink wines includes a red (25% Syrah, 75% Grenache) and a rose ( 40% Syrah, 60% Grenache). These wines are both aged in stainless steel vats. The red is a deep dark red color with purple tints. The nose has aromas of licorice, jammy fruits and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg). In the mouth, the red tastes of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) and cooked fruits and has a good tannic structure. It goes well with red meats, barbecues, lamb or a Mediterranean cuisine. The ros is vinified in concrete epoxy tanks. In the nose, the rose has aromas of red fruits: sweet cherries and wild strawberries. It serves well as an aperitif but also goes well with grilled seafood, grilled vegetables, or delicatessen-style meats.

La Cavee blanc is made from white Grenache and clairette. The vines are more than 50 years old and the grapes are all hand harvested. The word Cavee is a word coined by Cave Terraventoux to remind one that the terroir of this wine comes from the same one as that for rich truffles (caver in French means to dig). The wine is fermented for 15 days with daily racking; the malolactic fermentation is blocked; 30% of the wine is aged in new oak barrels for 6 months.

La Cavee rouge is 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, from vines that are more than 50 years old. The grenache goes through the malolactic fermentation before the two varietals are blended; 30% of the wine is aged in new oak barrels. A complex and intense nose of red fruit, cooked fruits and spicy nuances marries well with a sweet and round attack in the mouth. The tannins are elegant and harmonious. Wine Spectator (June 15, 2008) says of this wine: "Shows some toasty polish, with mocha and espresso notes leadingthe way for fleshy blackberry and currant fruit. A tarry edge takes over on the weighty finish. For fans of the toasty style.".

Website: http://www.terraventoux.com/