DOMAINE DE MARCOUX

Domaine de Marcoux is a family estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape run by the Armenier sisters, Catherine and Sophie, with Sophie's son Vincent Estevenin now working alongside them. The family's roots in the village go back to the thirteenth century; the domaine in its present form dates from 1989, and it was one of the first in Châteauneuf to farm organically and biodynamically, long before either was fashionable.

The estate farms about 28 hectares: 18 in Châteauneuf-du-Pape across the Charbonnières, L'Arnesque, Les Esquirons, Gallimardes, La Crau and Les Plagnes lieux-dits, 8 in Lirac, and a little over 2 just north of Châteauneuf that go into the Côtes du Rhône. Vines average around fifty years old. Fruit is hand-picked and destemmed, fermented in stainless steel with daily délestage, and raised mostly in concrete, with a share of each cuvée in Stockinger foudres and 350-litre barrels.

Nicolas Greinacher at Vinous describes the house style as "distinctively elegant, neatly balanced wines with great tension without being overly concentrated". The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, from the oldest parcels on the border of La Crau, is the reference wine; the Côtes du Rhône and Lirac La Lorentine are the same hands at everyday prices.

Wine More Cellars stocks Domaine de Marcoux at Chadstone, Melbourne, with delivery Australia-wide.