1995 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Quintessence

Château Pesquié is at the foot of Mount Ventoux, one of the major landmarks in southern France and, since 1973, the namesake of the Côtes du Venoux AOC. The estate’s modern history started in the early 1970s when Odette and René Bastide bought it from Alphonse Daudet, a distinguished Provencal writer. By the late 1980s the couple’s daughter and son-in-law joined the family grape growing business. In 1989 the family decided to leave the winemaking cooperative and make their own wine. The first vintage under the Château Pesquié label was 1990. Today the third generation – the brothers Alexandre and Frederic Chaudière – run the estate. The estate is farmed organically and makes red, white and rosé wines, all of which typically earn ratings in the low to mid 90s. Wine Advocate has noted that “Chateau Pesquié is without a doubt one of the top estate in Ventoux…”

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”