The 12 Wines of Christmas, Chateau la Font du Loup Cotes du Rhone
Beth Ribblett
A fun way to introduce you some of our favorite wines in the store that we believe would make great gifts!
Chateau La Font du Loup in Chateauneuf-du-Pape has been in the Melia family since 1942
Our first wine of Christmas is a lovely Cotes du Rhone with a great story...
Thanks to Matt Lirette of Lirette Selections, we met Anne Charlotte Melia this past summer in New Orleans just before we left for Europe. It was perfect timing - when she returned to France the following week we would be in the Rhone Valley and she invited us to visit at her family winery in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Chateau La Font du Loup (the fountain of the wolves), gets its name from the ancient natural spring that flows through the estate. Legend has it that wolves from nearby Mont Ventoux would stop to drink at the spring as they made their way to the Provençal plains. The Château was acquired by the Melia family in 1942 and today, Anne-Charlotte, the granddaughter of the founder, and her husband, Laurent, oversee the estate and the winemaking.
La Font du Loup, the fountain of the wolves is an ancient natural spring that flows through the property.
We visited Charlotte in June and were very impressed by the elegance of her wines that she attributes to their estate's unique terroir. Located at one of the highest points in Châteaneuf-du-Pape, Château La Font du Loup, has 20 hectares of organically farmed vineyards, including holdings in the La Crau and Font du Loup. Planted on a north facing slope with mostly sandy soil and vines that reach 100 years old, the vineyards are located in one of the coolest spots in the appellation which allows for a slow ripening of the grapes. As for her part, Charlotte's minimalist approach in the cellar ensures that the wines are never over-extracted, are vinified at cool temperatures and that no new oak is used. The results are wines that exhibit a purity and freshness not often found in the region.
The 2014 Chateau La Font du Loup Cotes du Rhone is made with a blend of 50 year old Grenache and Syrah that is hand harvest with a meticulous selection of grapes. The nose gives red and black fruit aromatics along with lavender floral notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and fresh with silky smooth tannins. Black cherry liqueur, ripe black plum and black raspberry flavors linger in this wine that exhibits considerable elegance and finesse.
So if you are looking for a great gift under $20 that expresses the elegant touch of a female winemaker from one of the most famous and approachable wine regions of France, this is your wine!
Also in stock from Chateau La Font du Loup:
- 2014 Chateau La Font du Loup Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
- 2014 Domaine Sarrail & Font du Loup Rosée
- 2013 Chateau La Font du Loup Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition