D'Ourea Tire Bouchon Vaucluse Rouge 2019

In 2010, after oenology school and apprenticing at Domaine Romanée Conti in Burgundy, and Turley Wine Cellars in California, Adrien Roustan, then 24, took over 9 hectares from his father who grew and sold grapes to the local co-op. The property is now 20 hectares of Vacqueyras and high-elevation Gigondas plots—at 400 meters to 520 meters, they are the highest elevation vines in the appellation (Ourea is the name of the Greek God for mountains and heights). Farming is certified organic; yields are tiny. 

“Our philosophy in the vineyards and in the cellar is to work as naturally as possible to obtain wines with high environmental and tasting value.” 

The Tire Bouchon is a unique blend of mostly Grenache, with a balance of Carignan, Syrah, and two ancient, unauthorized varieties, Aramon Noir and Oeillade Noire, planted by Adrien’s grandfather. The vines are all within Vaucluse, but the inclusion of Aramon and Oeillade mean that the wine can’t use the appellation designation and must be labeled Vin de France. All the fruit is de-stemmed and fermented with indigenous yeast in cement vats, and then aged for 6 more months in cement. It’s bottled unfiltered. It’s a lively, perfumed, and youthful red, loaded with fresh fruit and hillside herbs. 

Wine Making Overview: hand harvest, natural yeast ferment in large old cement for all wines with de-stemming for most  wines and small percentage of whole bunch for some wines. Elevage in cement for all red wines.