2013 Cairanne Blanc, Haut-Coustias, Domaine Oratoire Saint Martin, Rhône
Critics reviews
Rated Outstanding - Decanter, Panel Tasting Southern Rhône Whites, Sept 2015
Fabulous! This has absolutely everything. Fat, fruit and richness.
Marcel Orford-Williams, Wine Society Buyer, Tasting Panel Decanter
About this WINE
Domaine de l'Oratoire Saint Martin
Our search for a top-notch Cairanne has led us to the Alary family in L’Oratoire St Martin. The family can trace its origins to the same decade as Berry Bros. & Rudd (1698 for us, 1692 for them) and now farms over 28 hectares, in the middle of which there was once, apparently, an oratory of some description.
Low yielding old vines are farmed biodynamically and the wines are vinified first in opentop fermenters and then in large foudres of 3,400 litres.
Cairenne reserve des Seigneurs is produced from vines planted on clay-limestone soils and 50-year-old vines. The blend is made up of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. Pumping over for 12 days, followed by nine months’ ageing.
Cairanne
The wine appellation of Cairanne is located on a limestone plateau in Sourthern Rhone, its vineyards generally less elevated than those of Vacqueyras and Gigondas which are situated a few kilometres to the east.
The wines are benchmark Côtes du Rhône Villages, made from Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvedre, combining ripe fruit, pepper and spice.
Recommended Producer: Domaine de L'Ameillaud
White Rhône Blend
With the exception of the wines from Condrieu and Château-Grillet virtually all Rhône Valley whites are made from blends.
In the north, the white wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, and St-Péray are produced from blends of Marsanne and Roussanne. Generally Marsanne is the dominant partner and it lends colour, body and weight to the blend, as well as richly scented fruit. Roussanne, a notoriously low yielder and pernickety to grow, produces intensely aromatic wines which contribute bouquet, delicacy and finesse to the blend.
Until about 15 years ago there was very little interest in southern Rhône whites as it was widely believed that the combination of dull non aromatic grapes and the baking summer heat meant quality wine production was nigh impossible. Since then the quality has improved markedly through the introduction of cool fermentation techniques and increased plantings of northern Rhône white grapes.
The base of many blends is still Grenache Blanc, a widely planted variety producing fresh wines with apple-like fruits, often with hints of aniseed. Ugni Blanc is still found in many blends, as is Clairette though their general lack of character and definition has led to a reduction in plantings. The future for southern Rhône whites appears to lie with Roussanne, Marsanne, and, increasingly, Viognier.
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Description
White Cairanne is one of the few village whites with its own AOC. The emphasis on grapes which do not feature in Châteauneuf -du-Pape is captured here with 50% Marsanne and 10% of Viognier dominating the blend, the balance being from Roussanne. Aged for ten months with regular lees stirring, the wine has delicious aromas of quince, poached pears and white flowers, matched on the palate by classic Marsanne notes of beeswax and grilled almond.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Certified as biodynamic in 2012, L’Oratoire St Martin is run with great skill by brothers François and Fréderic Alary, both leading players in the long-overdue movement to get Cairanne promoted to stand-alone ‘cru’ status. According to Frédéric, 2015 may well be the year; 2013, on the other hand, was the year to tax the accountants, given the miniscule yields of Grenache that were farmed. The wines that were made are impressive, probably best approached in relative youth, which is no bad thing.
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