Rhône Valley Villages AOC - Cuvée Sabrine - Brunel Estate - 2022

The winemaking tradition of the Brunel family dates back to the 17th century when they acquired a vineyard plot north of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation from the Bishop of Avignon. Through generations, family members succeeded one another in the vineyards, but it was in 1954 that Lucien Brunel coined the name "Les Cailloux" to highlight the viticultural qualities of the estate as well as the geological peculiarity of the large oval stones covering the vineyards.

In 1971, Lucien's son, André Brunel, took over the reins of Domaine Les Cailloux. His tireless passion for quality led to a constant expansion of the family vineyards, with acquisitions in the Côtes du Rhône and selected parcels of Vaucluse Vins de Pays. In 1989, he launched the highly regarded Cuvée Centenaire and continued to improve vineyard management practices. André was among the first in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to use customized soil cover methods and prioritize non-chemical agricultural approaches for his vineyards.

In 2012, André's son, Fabrice Brunel, joined the team to perpetuate the family's history and passion. Driven by the pursuit of quality, profound respect for the land, and the desire to produce remarkable wines that are as enjoyable upon release as they are with aging, the Brunel family demonstrates great meticulousness in vineyard cultivation, grape selection, and winemaking style.

The grapes for this wine come from a single plot located north of Orange, in the Côtes du Rhône vineyards, where the rich soil benefits from excellent drainage due to fine gravel just below the surface. The surrounding region of Côtes du Rhône Villages offers terroir conducive to producing fresh and aromatic Grenache, which pairs perfectly with Syrah and Mourvèdre grown in the same area. Sabrine was the name of the daughter of the previous landowner, and André Brunel's current owners chose to retain it as it reflects their goals for this wine: complexity and power derived from the terroir, combined with freshness and elegance that make it a beautiful transition between their usual Côtes du Rhône and Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. The grapes were harvested in the second half of September, at full maturity. The Syrah tannins provide sufficient structure and aging potential. The wine is then aged in concrete tanks for twelve to eighteen months before being bottled one month later.