Sharing a name with the regional white grape variety, how could the Marsanne family become anything other than wine growers? Fortunately the family has shown a real flair for making wine for several generations. Their property lies in Mauves, the historic centre of the Saint-Joseph appellation, and boasts some very high-quality, old vines planted on the hillsides of Mauves and Tournon. The Marsannes have been heavily influenced by organic farming and their practices are very respectful. The soil is tilled regularly, grape yields are restricted, and at harvest time (manual of course) the grapes are picked when they are ripe and sorted directly in situ. When they get to the winery they are sorted again before undergoing traditional vinification. These astonishingly pure wines are an authentic and classy reflection of the Saint-Joseph terroir.

In the domain, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines come from pebbly soil. Here is the proof: Grenache noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre that make up this cuvée come from old vines that are dotted around the clay-clotted soils which have been strewn with pebbles for almost 90 years. They absorb the day’s heat to then restore it to the vines at night. Nicolas and Claire-Jeanne Boiron follow a traditional winemaking process in thermo-regulated concrete vats, daily gentle rack and return and pump-over, 35-day barrel fermentation and ageing in barrels and demi-muid barrels for 12 to 18 months. This is therefore an impressive, elegant and aromatic Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Wait many years before drinking with game and other flavoursome dishes.