Domaine Vintur Wines & AOC Ventoux recommended by Decanter - Issue December 2018:

The Ventoux Revolution

Séléné Luna Edition selected as a “great buy”, given 94 points.

Our region has been given high praise by Decanter, one of the world’s leading wine magazines, and Domaine Vintur has been picked out as one of the best producers, see Decanter December 2018 issue.

A six page article by Matt Walls explains how the AOC Ventoux is "Leading a Rhône revolution" with wines made of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan (reds) and Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Marasanne and Viognier (whites).

AOC Ventoux begins 30 km east of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is close to mountain ranges. As a result, it has benefited from climate change and innovative wine making. “Wines of Ventoux are identifiably Rhône in style, but with a distinctive lifted freshness" and says Matt "You can experiment here - It's not so well know that you would feel yourself forced into making a "classic" style for being unable to sell it."

The article reveals that Ventoux wine-making goes back to 2,000 years, traced back to 100 BC. It remained an important industry through the Middle Ages. During the last century, the climate of this corner of the Rhône remained relatively cool, making it particularly difficult to ripen reds fully. So Ventoux gained a reputation for thin, light wines that kept prices low and progress slow until the 1990s when “a handful of wine makers began to see the potential and in response certain co-ops and their producers began to raise their game."

The argument is that the bowl surrounded by mountains on three sides [where Domaine Vintur is located] benefits from cooling air flowing down the slopes of the 1,912m hulking Mont Ventoux.

Matt says that Ventoux wines have tell-tale aromatic freshness and good acidity. He adds Ventoux can also can make exceptional whites “with several stand out examples, such as Domaine Vintur, demonstrating the huge potential”.

According to our neighbour and wine-maker Even Bakke, "Ventoux is going through quite a revolution" The gradually warming climate is a positive. "Now nature is on our side" say local producers. “And as wine lovers around the world begin to favour freshness and drinkability over power and scale, Ventoux wines naturally hit the brief."

Matt concludes: "Small domaines are uncovering pockets of exceptional potential and joining the band of dynamic, headstrong and creative new estates that have made Ventoux, the Swartland of the Rhône. So I have to disagree with Vincenti [another neighbouring producer]. The revolution isn't coming - It's here".

RECOMMENDED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE AS A GREAT BUY

Issue December 2018

Domaine Vintur,

Cuvée Selene, Edition Luna 2014

Score: 94

Grown on clay-limestone soils at 130m and aged for two years in second-use barrels. The oak is fully integrated into the quince fruit, lending vanilla fudge and nougat notes.

A gastronomic style, showing body, texture and energy in a wine that demonstrates the age worthiness of top-quality white from Ventoux.

Drink: 2018-20120 - Alcohol: 13.5%