DOMAINE LES SEMELLES DE VENT

In 1991 Christophe GALON start to manage the familial domaine located on the vineyards of Vacqueyras and Gigondas and continue to deliver the grapes to the local cooperative.

His taiwanese wife arrive on the domaine in 1994.

In 2009 following the buying of a small parcel located in Châteauneuf du Pape, they started their very first vinification with a red Châteauneuf du Pape 100% mourvèdre.

In 2010 the first cuvées in Vacqueyras and Gigondas were born under the name of “Montagne Vieille”.

During some work of rebuilding stones walls terrasses in Gigondas a salamander is seen.

This animal is chosen as the emblem of the domaine. The royal motto “Nec Pluribus Impar” that we can translate as “different from the others” is refering to the cuvée 100% mourvèdre (unusual for a Châteauneuf du Pape wine).

In 2012 after a long trip on the Silk Road were Yu Yen and Christophe met each other 20 years earlier they decide to rename the domaine « Domaine Les Semelles de Vent » (that we can translate as « Walking on the Wind) refering to the french poet and traveller Arthur RIMBAUD (19th century).

The domaine extends today on 15 hectares with three appellations.

IGP Vaucluse  : 2.5 ha

Located nearby the AOC zones, the vineyard is planted with 50 years old Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Counoise. The soil is deep and fresh giving to this wine nice fruity taste and freshness. To drink young within 3 years.

AOC Vacqueyras : 8 ha

The differents small parcels are located all over the appellation Vacqueyras conferring a large diversity of soils. Nearly half of the vineyard is more than 60 years old. The oldest parcel was planted in 1920. The cuvée “Vieilles Vignes” is from  the parcels with clay and stones giving some spicy notes as white pepper and fruity notes as cherry and morello.

AOC Gigondas : 4 ha

The largest part of the domaine’s Gigondas vineyard is located on the northern and western hill slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains just above the village of Gigondas. The average level of the parcels is 350 meters high. These parcels organised in terrasses are surrounded by mediterrannean forest like an islet in the middle of the wild vegetation.This particular location promote the natural exchange between the different plants and the grapes. The soil made with blue and grey marns bring the sweet spices notes (cinnamon, cloves) into the wines.

AOC Châteauneuf du Pape : 0.25 ha

The domaine owns just one parcel located near the Châteauneuf du Pape village area planted with only 40 years old mourvèdre grape variety. The forest and garrigue are laying on three sides. The soil is consisting in sandstone and rolled pebbles.The austerity of the young wines is balanced by the deep fineness of the aromas of musk, leather and black fruits.

Harvest, vinification and elevage

All the parcels are harvested by hand. Grapes are gathered at the right time to avoid over ripeness and to keep the natural acidity which give the freshness of the wines. For all the appellations the differents grapes varieties are put together for the vinifications which takes no longer than 15 days in concreate tanks. Only native yeasts are used to preserve the specificities of the“terroir”. The wines are aged then in old french oaks barrels (450, 500 and 600 liters) during 12 to 14 months to smooth them with a natural micro oxygenation. During the period and specially in winter time season the wines are clarifying itself avoiding to filter them before bottling. It is why some small deposits can settle in the bottles. The bottles must take rest a couple of months after bottling and will be ready for the customers some 16 / 18 months after the harvest.

Tasting

Fresh with black and red fruits notes during the early years of the wines, some spicy notes rise with time bringing the complexity of the wines. The best time to start to drink the wines is after 4 or 5 years but the keeping can goes as far than 10 or 15 years.

A good aeration is generally needed before the tasting to enjoy the full aromatic complexity of the different cuvées.