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RHÔNE VALLEY

NOUVELLES
DE BOISSET
WINTER 2020-2021

The metamorphosis

of the Longue Toque estate

Gabriel Meffre’s Longue Toque estate in the heart of the Dentelles
de Montmirail mountains range in Provence is undergoing a far-reaching
transformation to bring out the best in its magnificent terroir.

This is a tale of renewal. In 1999, the Gabriel Meffre wine house acquired the Similar effort are being used for the white wines, with Marsanne, Roussanne,
Longue Toque estate in the small chain of mountains known as the Dentelles and Grenache Blanc being planted at an altitude of 500 meters on marl and
de Montmirail. The estate, which produces Gigondas, has been the object of limestone scree. “Before, there was Grenache Noir and some Syrah. But the cool,
a vast renovation scheme, which is still on-going. “Our goal is to bring out the windswept nature of the plots meant they were ideal for white wines,” recalls
best in this exceptional terroir, located at between 200 and 500 meters above Nicolas Spéranza, head of estates. The first vintage, the Côtes-du-Rhône 2017,
sea level,” says estate manager Etienne Maffre. is a good reflection of the minerality and purity of this terroir.
“We decided which varietals are best adapted for each soil type. We have also Meanwhile, the winery has been entirely renovated, with a new grape reception
introduced plot-by-plot vinification carried out in-house.” area, sorting table, horizontal press, and temperature-controlled concrete vats.
To date, a quarter of the vineyards have been restructured. Winemaker Véronique In the cellar, the old oak vats have been replaced by demi-muids which result
Torcolacci explains: “We decided to carry out part of the planting using massal in more rounded tannins. An example is the “Homage” cuvée, which is only
selections from 100-year-old Grenache vines present on some of the higher- made in the best years from 100-year-old Grenache planted on marl, sand, and
altitude plots, along with some Grenache Noir from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. We limestone. The roots are forced to probe deeply into the soil, saving the vines
did the same thing with some old Clairette vines from Gigondas and some from any hydric stress.
80-year-old Syrah from the north of the Rhone valley.” Planted in 2017, these Some new single-plot wines have also joined the ranks from the 2020 vintage,
vines gave their first grape harvest in 2020. including Les Trois Yeux, Les Plâtrières, and the Vaqueyras Les Ramières.
In the long term, half of the estate’s vines will be grape varieties produced from Lastly, an additional four hectares in the Cairanne appellation have been
massal selection. “This is a way of preserving the genetic heritage of our vines acquired, replanted with vines on the flank of the limestone crest known as
and introducing biodiversity. It’s an essential part of our overall sustainable the Dentelles Sarrasines. The estate now has 47 hectares under vine, and since
approach,” Véronique explains. 2020, 36 hectares including Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, Plan de Dieu, Vacqueyras
and Gigondas have enjoyed organic certification.

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