Chateau Redortier
There are 35 hectares of vineyard here, broken up into small parcels dotted amongst ancient oak copses. Redortier is owned and run by the Menthon family, who originate from Annecy, arriving here in 1956 ‘in search of hot weather.’ Although Beaumes de Venise is famous for Muscat, the estate has none planted, as the vineyard is at considerable altitude. The cool weather up here means that the harvest can go on into November, which lends the wine a freshness that is often missing in Grenache dominated wines. The Gigondas, unlike some, is not stewed and over alcoholic, instead possessing a lovely purity of ripe raspberry fruit and wieghty spice.