Domaine les Cailloux

André Brunel is one of the shrewdest producers in Châteauneuf-Du-Pape and consistently produces some of the best examples from an appellation that is so often overhyped and overpriced. His family has been producing wine in Châteauneuf since the 18th century and André joined his father in the cellars in 1971. He now has 21 hectares of vineyards located at Mont Redon near the north-east boundary of the Châteauneuf appellation.

Les Cailloux is named after the famous "galet roulés" or pudding stones, that lie on many of the soils in Châteauneuf. Andre`s Châteauneuf is typically a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% made up from other varieties. All the grapes are now destemmed before being fermented in a combination of enamel Vats and wooden foudres. The wine is then matured in a mixture of enamel vats, new and old wooden pièces, and new barriques. The different components are then assembled and the wine is then bottled unfined and unfiltered.