Vidal-Fleury, Ventoux 2021

Ventoux 2021, Vidal-Fleury

Rhône Valley, France

Grape Variety: Syrah, Grenache Noir

Alcohol: 14% ABV

The Story

It was in 1781, in the small commune of Tupin-et-Semons, south of Lyon and within the most prestigious vineyard of the Rhône, that Joseph Vidal founded the Maison of the same name. From the outset, it acquired an international reputation thanks, in particular, to trade with America. Thomas Jefferson, then United States ambassador to France, visited the estate in 1787.

In the 1890s, Gustave Vidal married a Miss Fleury, and Maison Vidal became Maison Vidal-Fleury. This wedding came at just the right time, as the bride's dowry enabled the vineyard, which had just suffered the devastating attacks of phylloxera, to be replanted.

A period of disappointments followed, such as two wars, a lack of skilled labor, market gardening... We thought the vineyard was in agony, but that was without counting on a handful of stubborn men, and above all wine lovers, who would revive the vineyard. With the strength of their tenacity and their arms, they restored the vines and gradually restored their nobility. And this is how Maison Vidal-Fleury became, in the middle of the 20th century, the emblematic Maison of Côte Rôtie.

In 1984, it became the property of the Guigal family: this was the logical next step for these two families, Vidal-Fleury and Guigal, who had always worked together in the wine industry. Indeed, in 1924, Joseph Vidal-Fleury had hired Etienne Guigal, Marcel's father, as winemaker and cellar master. When the Vidal-Fleury family decided to sell, having no heirs wishing to run the House, they naturally turned to the Guigal family... The family story continues.

Vidaly-Fleury, however, retains its full autonomy. In 2008, the House took a new step and invested in new 9,000m² cellars to optimize the maturation, packaging, and aging of the wines in bottles.

Today, Maison Vidal-Fleury has no fewer than 19 of the most prestigious appellations in the Rhône Valley.

Vineyard & Winemaking

This vintage comes from grapes grown northeast of Bédoin, at the foot of Mont Ventoux. The terroir is made up of red soils resulting from the degradation of Tertiary limestone, and soils formed from a mixture of sand and ochre clay. The climate is Mediterranean, with the particularity of having fairly cool nights due to the mountain influence.

Vinification using destemmed harvests, alcoholic fermentation under controlled temperature. The vatting lasts three to four weeks depending on the grape variety with maceration under marc, then the wine is aged in stainless steel vats for around a year and a half before being bottled.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is fruity, with notes of wild berries such as blackberry, strawberry and blueberry.
The palate is silky and elegant, with a long finish revealing a lovely freshness. Stunning purple colour wuth ruby hues.

Cellaring & Service

Cellaring Potential: 3-5 years 

Serving Temperature: 18°C

Allergens: This wine contains sulphites