Domaine de Trévallon 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The color is a deep, intense carmine, enhanced by subtle violet highlights visible at the rim.

Nose

The nose unveils remarkable aromatic power while maintaining beautiful elegance. It opens with notes of red fruit, particularly raspberry and cherry, accompanied by nuances of white pepper and licorice. With aeration, aromas of garrigue herbs, thyme, and subtle touches of tapenade and game gradually reveal themselves.

Palate

The attack is frank and direct, revealing remarkable balance. The silky texture unveils fine, refined tannins, devoid of any hardness. The palate develops with beautiful breadth, expressing the wine's aromatic complexity. Notes of slightly smoked blackcurrant, leather, and saline minerality persist through a long, distinguished finish.

Food and wine pairings

Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2021 is the ideal accompaniment to a Camargue bull gardiane flavored with Ardèche truffles. It also pairs perfectly with braised red meats, roasted game birds such as partridge or pigeon, as well as a leg of lamb with herbes de Provence. Hard cheeses like Comté or Salers also make excellent pairings.

Service and cellaring

Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2021 benefits from being decanted approximately one hour before serving. It is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 17°C. This wine can be appreciated now but will continue to evolve favorably until around 2051.

An exceptional Provençal red wine from the Alpilles

The estate

Founded in 1973 by Éloi Dürrbach, Domaine de Trévallon spans 70 hectares, including 15 hectares of red vines in the Alpilles. Éloi transformed a hostile terrain of garrigue and limestone into an exceptional vineyard through the titanic task of dynamiting and crushing the rock. Since November 2021, his daughter Ostiane Icard has managed the estate, perpetuating her father's philosophy of organic viticulture and uncompromising winemaking. The estate is renowned for its historic refusal of the Baux-de-Provence AOC status in order to preserve its iconic blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

The vineyard

The Domaine de Trévallon vines are planted on the northern slopes of the Alpilles, near Saint-Étienne-du-Grès. The terroir is characterized by exceptionally stony clay-limestone soils, composed of Hauterivian and Barremian limestone dating from the Lower Cretaceous period. The northern exposure and altitude naturally moderate temperatures, favoring slow, gradual ripening. The vineyard has been farmed organically since its inception, without synthetic pesticides or herbicides, with regular plowing and conservative pruning to limit yields.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage stands out as one of the coolest summers in the region in recent years. Average temperatures in July and August reached 24°C, accompanied by welcome rainfall of approximately 20 millimeters in July and 25 millimeters in August. These more temperate climatic conditions allowed for balanced grape ripening. Harvesting took place from September 8 to 21, beginning with Syrah and concluding with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Winemaking and aging

Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2021 was vinified according to the estate's traditional methods, favoring minimal intervention. Fermentation took place with whole bunches, without added yeast or sulfur during this phase. The wine was then fined with fresh egg whites and underwent no filtration. Aging took place for twenty-four months in large oak foudres, with minimal racking to preserve contact with the lees and encourage the development of aromatic complexity.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon (50%)
Syrah (50%)