Mas Saint Louis

Mas Saint Louis

[A producer carrying the traditions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape]

The Domaine of Mas Saint Louis was founded more than a century ago by Jean-Louis Géniest.

It was assembled from family land lying along the old road that runs from Avignon up to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Louis Géniest (1909-1990) devoted himself to enlarging what the founder had begun.

By buying new parcels and consolidating others through a series of land exchanges, he built a magnificent estate of more than 30 hectares, coherent and harmonious in every part.

Louis's work passed to his son Jean, a doctor of law and a distinguished jurist, and today the domaine is run by Jean's wife, Monique Géniest.

Monique has concentrated on improving the soils and the vines while at the same time modernising the cellar.

The vineyards are in conversion to organic farming, maintaining a traditional, sustainable culture that respects the environment and always gives priority to careful work by hand.

With the exception of a small parcel of Syrah beside the cellar in the heart of the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the vines lie at the southern extremity of the appellation.

These lieux-dits carry names such as Coursouloute and La Lionne, and adjoin the Arménière, an old arm of the Rhône that is now a protected fishing reserve.

At the centre of the estate stands a very old farmhouse built of pisé, the traditional technique of compressed clay and gravel.

Ringed by oak and pine woods, the vineyard slopes gently from the hill of La Lionne down to the country road linking Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The Grenache grown here expresses itself with real delicacy. After fermentation the wines are given a long élevage, in large oak foudres and demi-muids wherever possible.

This draws out the fine, complex tannins and aromatics that show Châteauneuf-du-Pape at its best.

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, meanwhile, is raised in egg-shaped concrete tanks.