Domaine Font de Michelle was founded in 1880 thanks to Jean Etienne Gonnet but its current incarnation is down to his grandson Etienne Gonnet who, in 1950, took on the 30 hectares of vines situated in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. From 1975, his sons Jean and Michel took over the domaine with a mission to improve vinification methods and produce richer, more concentrated wines that retained their elegance. Things are still a family affair thanks to the baton being passed down to their respective sons, Bertrand and Guillaume. 2002 marked a turning point in the domaine's history: the family acquired parcels in the Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône Villages appellations. For more than 20 years, the domaine has adopted an environmentally friendly philosophy towards winemaking. Organic compost is used instead of fertilizers and the soil is tilled with a plough.

The historic Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, one of the oldest in France, takes its name from the summer residence of the popes in Avignon during the 14th century. The vineyards rest on an iconic terroir of rounded pebbles, red clay and sand, which absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. The wine is a carefully judged blend of 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah, Counoise and Mourvèdre. The vines, averaging 110 years of age, are tended and harvested with great care. In the winery, vinification follows traditional methods in pyramidal concrete vats. The grapes are 50% destemmed, then undergo a 30-day fermentation and maceration with native yeasts. The wine is finally matured in 600-litre barrels and concrete vats.
The ruby hue is tinged with garnet highlights The intense, refined nose reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, garrigue and violet, with a hint of leather Broad, silky and well structured on the palate, the wine shows present yet velvety tannins, leading into a persistent finish marked by black fruit and liquorice.