[Full-bodied, elegant, and classic Gigondas]
Domaine Saint-Damien covers 45 hectares in the Gigondas, Plan-de-Dieu, Côtes du Rhône-Villages and Vins de France IGP appellations.
The Sorel family has been cultivating the land for five generations since 1821, with Romain taking over as manager since 2015. In 1979, the estate was given its current name, after the Christian saint Saint Damien, in honour of a long-lost chapel.
The average age of the vines in Gigondas is over 70 years old, with some parcels being over 100 years old. Since 1996, the use of chemical and artificial fertilizers has been eliminated from all vineyards, and in 2012 the vineyards were certified organic. In 1998, the vineyards were approached by enologist Philippe Cambie, who has been practicing organic farming in the following ways:
Respect for the vines and the soil (using only natural products such as sulfur, a little copper in the form of Bordeaux mixture, plant infusions, goat's milk and essential oils)
Encourage covering grass in winter to maintain soil life
- Fertilizer is only used from organic farms in the Alps
After the harvest, work in the cellar is based on a strict selection of plots to promote the expression of different terroirs or to complement each other during blending.
It is attracting attention as a "classic Gigondas" that is synonymous with full-bodied elegance, and all of its cuvées have made great strides, receiving high scores from various magazines.