Chimère

Situated in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the southern Rhône Valley, Chimère is a joint winemaking venture, bringing together several notable figures in the wine industry. These include Manfred Krankl, renowned for his role as the founder and winemaker behind Sine Qua Non, a cult producer recognized for producing uniquely distinctive wines from California’s Central Coast.

Partnered with Krankl are the Maurel brothers, Vincent and Pascal, proprietors of the Clos Saint Jean winery in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Philippe Cambie, a highly respected oenologist celebrated for his consulting work in the Rhone Valley. The joint venture’s primary goal is to craft a Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine that authentically captures the essence of the La Crau vineyard, one of the Rhone Valley’s most renowned terroirs, while drawing on the collective expertise of these world-renowned winemakers.

The inaugural vintage of Chimère, debuting in 2010, is predominantly crafted from the Mourvèdre grape variety, accounting for 95% of the blend. The name “Chimère,” which translates to “chimera” in French, alludes to the concept of dreams or fantasies, reflecting the aspiration of creating something extraordinary and imaginative in the realm of wine. Notably, this debut vintage consisted of only four 300-litre barrels, exclusively bottled in magnum format, resulting in a limited production of approximately 800 bottles.

This collaboration symbolizes a convergence of passion, expertise, and a shared vision to produce a wine that mirrors the terroir’s intricacies and showcases the skills of some of the most revered winemakers on a global scale.