Châteauneuf du Pape is synonymous with French wine culture, hailed for its opulence and robust character traits, all whilst adorning the grand title of France’s first appellation. Since, the sigil of Châteauneuf has brandished each bottle with promise of fervent quality.
Domaine Chante Cigale, of the Jourdan family originally, who unto its name set sights on the institutionalization of their brand upon the establishment of France’s first AOC, Châteauneuf du Pape, with whose tides they sought to conquer in the emerging popularisation of the regional wines. With ample succession, the goals of the Jourdan family came to fruition, as now the Domaine Chante Cigale name is one of the most recognisable of Châteauneuf du Pape. Now heading the Domaine is one Alexandre Favier, who drives its historic legacy onward, maintaining the same values and traditions the family has held since its origin.
Historically, as an old world winemaking country, France has governed their AOCs with stringent practice and Châteauneuf, being its oldest, is no different. Its net is cast and name now known very much worldwide, yet its wines, vinification and viticulture is little changed in its many years, though changes are slowly trickling in, such as the experimentation with carbonic maceration in some producing wineries of the region. Permittance for varietal use in Chateauneuf are modest to say the least, with white varietals making up for just five percent of wines in the region, explanatory of its lacking consumer awareness on the world stage.
Regionally, Châteauneuf’s terroir is distinguished by being predominately temperate; across the rolling hills of sun-soaked vineyard, the Galets roulés coating the land provide the vines of Châteauneuf a blanket of heat retention twenty-four hours of the day. Topsoils consist of clay-limestone which are perfect for the procurement of Châteauneuf du Pape’s broad texture and profile, also sustaining the vine, banking and retaining water in times of sparse precipitation.
The vineyard Chante Cigale is a 40ha landscape divided into some forty-five different plots, each with individual intention. Plantings are made up of, alongside the well-known GSM grapes indicative of Châteauneufs wines, but also five of the six permitted white grapes of the AOC, including: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Picpoul, with each composing, accumulatively, the Chante Cigale Blanc, vinified and blended in equal parts of 20%; priorly, the yield is all hand-harvested mid September.
In the winery, these unique white varietals are vinified with indigenous yeasts across stainless, to the effect of 70% yield and Burgundian cask at 30%. Thereafter the must spends six months on fine lees, ultimately developing the complexity. Concisely crafted, the blend pulls distinct aspects from each varietal to deliver a well-balanced and structured experience, for instance the innate, natural acidity of Picpoul, the sweet sensibility of Clairette Blanche or the vibrant, forwardness of Grenache Blanc, contributing in unison to the end result of the blend. The nose presents a rich and detailed bouquet ; cardamom steeped pears, white florality, toasty nuttiness and residual buttery undernotes. On the palate though, the wine take shape to the tune of a bold and textured mid palate, soft acidity, and a lengthy, sweetened finish; notes of white peach, hazelnut, mild lychee and earl grey.
From several generations of Favier knowledge, Alexandre is duly making his name in Châteauneuf and by his rates of accomplishment, Domaine Chante Cigale will soon be widely known. Producing more than five times more Châteauneuf Blanc than any other in the region, they’ve hit the ground running to conquer the niche market.
Somm Coull 