Sommelier note: Beautiful small domaine situated in the hillsides not far from Montpellier, in a fine wine growing region called Montpeyroux. Only 12 ha. (30 acres) planted with vines, spread around 7 parcels. Each parcel with varying soil and orientation will give a different result in fruit. This gives a broad range of blending material for the very fine winemaker! Pascale Rivière is in charge here and she’s part of the group of female winemakers called the ‘Vinifilles’. http://www.vinifilles.fr/. Her skill and the excellent juice she begins with are the main reasons her wines are so fabulous.
El Abanico is another delicious, creative wine from Pascale. This vineyard is on altitude so the vines get all the heat during the day and at night the temperature drops so maturation of the fruit drops. This cycle is very good for ripening grapes with complex flavors. Her soils have never had any pesticides or other chemical treatments, forever organic! The wine has had a maturation for 12 months on oak and this ‘upbringing’ of the superb grapes gives the wine a great complexity and impressive length. Very well balanced you can find notes of toasted bread, tropical fruits, but also floral notes like fennel. Compare to a Meursault at a fraction of the cost. Drink this big wine with food and you will be amazed. Grilled sardines, caponata, curry, veal roasted with fennel and sage-this wine is not shy!