In 1986
Daniel Brunier of Domaine Vieux Telegraphe purchased the Chateauneuf
du Pape estate of Domaine la Roquette and turned it over to his sons
Frederic and Daniel. The vineyards are arranged across the southern
Rhone valley and include acreage outside the Chateauneuf du Pape zone.
“Le Pigeoulet”
is Provençal for “little one,” a name the Bruniers feel is appropriate
to the friendliness and drinkability of a red and rosé bearing the
name. It is sourced from 3 hectares alongside the Rhône, dominated
by the sand and clay that typifies these alluvial soils, and from
7 hectares of more stony, less fertile sites in Caromb, on the slopes
of Mount Ventoux.
The vines
average 20 years of age and are predominantly Grenache (80%). Additionally,
in 2007 there is Syrah (10%), Carignan (5%) and Cinsaut (5%). Earlier
vintages included a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The harvest
is both manual in Caromb and mechanical on the river bank. Destemming
precedes fermentation in concrete vats with temperature control. The
wine rests for four months before it is transferred to large foudres
for five months before bottling.
2007
has been roundly acclaimed as a great Rhône vintage and Le Pigeoulet
only confirms this. It is quite dense on the palate with abundant
aromas of garrigue, kirsch, pepper and jam. Volumes of ripe tannins
balance well with sensations of molten berries, menthol and remarkable
freshness provided by ripe, penetrating acidity.
