Top-notch great value fruit-forward Côtes du Rhône red

A fruit-forward blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (25%) and Mourvèdre (5%) with impressive notes of black cherry and vanilla on the nose; well-balanced with ripe fruit and tannins in harmony; good length and a spicy finish.

• 92 Points Decanter Magazine, Jan 2023*
• Perfect with red meat dishes
• Sustainable winemaking
  
  

Food Pairing: Le Terroir is a food-friendly wine and pairs well with most red meat dishes and cheeses such as Comté.

Cellaring: For drinking now to 2029

STORY BEHIND THIS WINE

Michel Bernard’s family has lived in Orange, a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France, since the 17th century. As tenant farmers, the Bernards profited from the social upheavals of the French Revolution, buying their first vineyard soon after the momentous event in 1794. This vineyard is still part of Château Beauchêne but today the property extends to 70 hectares, including vineyards representing three appellations, Châteauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône Villages and Côtes du Rhône. All wines, however, are vinified and matured in Château Beauchêne. Michel Bernard remains in charge of winemaking, working with his wife Dominique Vergniaud and their daughter Amandine Bernard, to create and market their array of impressive wines including Le Terroir. Bernard believes that ‘the character of a vineyard results as much from the history of its terroir as from the personality of the winemakers who fashion it’. He is careful to minimise the use of pesticides saying that a vineyard must be allowed express itself without being forced. ‘Balance between the characteristics of the soil and the capacity of the grape variety, is the only way to preserve the true wealth of a vineyard through generations.’

*"Explosively expressive, this cuvée is from the Bernard family's oldest vineyard, Grangeneuve, which straddles Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône. It's gorgeous, with chewy red berry and cherry fruit, a floral fragrance and a supple texture." Jan 2023