Our Growers:

This Provençal vineyard, which makes organically-grown wine and is owned by Jean-Pierre Margan, is surrounded by the Luberon Mountains National Park and is located just below the hillside village of Bonnieux. Jean-Pierre and his wife, Martine, took over the family domaine in 1976; their principal goal has been to focus on quality and organic farming. Their daughter, Nathalie, joined them in managing the domaine in 2000.
The vineyard is at 400 meters, in very small parcels planted on gentle slopes that are well-aerated surrounding the 17th century chateau that serves as the family home. The Château was built on the site of a roman villa and its name comes from many underground waterways, often cut into the rock. These galleries are used to this day for the water in the Chäteau. The domaine was the location of the 2006 American movie “A Good Year” with Russell Crowe because of its beautiful surroundings.

The soil is argilo-calcaire. The calcaire has many white limestone rocks and is sandy (red) and rocky, the degree of both depending on the parcel. The Luberon park, its forests-and its birds-help Jean-Pierre Margan to farm organically; the birds eat lots of insects. He uses only powdered sulfur and copper and is certified by the organization Ecocert as well as being listed in the Mitchell Beaxley Classic Wine Library (p. 308) as a biodynamic wine: "This Cotes du Luberon domaine produces Provence's most attractive wines from certified organically grown grapes. Chateau La Canorgue's dry Cotes du Luberon Blanc wines are malty in youth, but find clean,

refreshing apricot or pear fruit within 2 years. Reds are full of refined tannins and display smooth, satisfying flavours of hand-plucked hedgerow fruits. Harvesting is done manually.”

CÔTES DU LUBERON red: An organically grown wine, certified by Ecocert. A rich, dark, complex, strong but smooth red. The grape varieties that make up the wine are 70% Syrah, 20%-25% Grenache and 5%-10% old Carignan. This is classic Syrah-dominant wine: black pepper, sage, and licorice/resin notes. With age, it acquires a structure and traits one associates with older Syrah from the northern Rhône: fine tannins and good, high “pitch.” One can taste red fruits, gamey or meaty aromas and sometimes coffee.. These wines keep and evolve.

Côtes-du-Luberon white: An organically grown wine, certified by Ecocert. This wine is made from 4 grapes: Clairette, Grenache, Rousanne and Marsanne. Margan likes lots of cépages because he doesn't want to "type" his white, which is always extraordinarily “bright,” full and long, with honey, white flowers and mineral notes. The malolactic fermentation is blocked in this wine. M. Margan vinifies in stainless and bottles in the spring. The wine goes well with fish and seafood.

CÔTES DU LUBERON rosé: An organically grown wine, certified by Ecocert. This is a dry, very fruity pink wine from Grenache (70%) and Syrah (30%) grapes. The wine has balanced fruit and depth and remarkable freshness. It is a classic rosé of the Luberon, always very pretty, marked by aromas of very ripe red fruits and very straightforward in the mouth. It finishes with a note of tangerine. Pair it with any summer dish, with a tossed salad, grilled meats, poultry or fish.

Le Béret Frog: This is a new cuvée made from 80% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 5% Cabernet. In the nose, the wine is characterized by red berries, Morello cherry and spices. In the mouth, it is full-bodied and finshes long. It is ideal as an apéritif or goes well with any kind of food. The packaging is contemporary.

Cuvée Prestige: This cuvée, a vin de pays de Vaucluse, is an assemblage of 50% Syrah, 15% Merlot and 25% Cabernet. The grapes are all hand harvested and fermented for 20 days. The wine is aged in new oak barrels. The palate is fat, long and powerful. Stewed fruit and cooked fruit aromas blend with some notes of cocoa. It is ideal for red meat, game, or spicy dishes.