Domaine Richaud, Cotes du Rhone Terre d'Aigles 2024

65% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 10% Syrah and 5% Counoise

Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France

Average vine age of 70 years old. These historic, high-elevation vineyards are near the Aygues River and were among the first parcels vinified by Marcel Richaud in the 1970s.
Soil of Sandy, heavy clay, alluvial deposits. Naturally farmed, certified by ECOCERT
The varieties are destemmed and vinified separately. Short maceration of 8-12 days in cement. Aged 8 months in cement tank in cold underground cellars. 1.5g/L SO2 exclusively at bottling. The wines are never fined or filtered. VEGAN.

Terre d'Aigles translates to "Eagle's Land" and is a reference to these high-altitude vineyards that consistently produce a fruity, nervy, thirst-quenching, wine that finishes with a bit of spice. These are true vins vivants and are extraordinarily drinkable thanks to the lighter touch in the cellar and old, goblet trained vines.

Fifth generation winegrower Marcel Richaud founded the domaine in 1974 after deciding to be the first in his family to estate bottle rather than selling to the cooperative. Richaud was just 19 years old at the time! He had dropped out of high school at 17 to study viticulture, understanding that his connection to the vineyards in Cairanne would be his life’s work. He was an early proponent of low intervention winemaking, including lower sulfur additions, no fining or filtration, and most importantly, natural viticulture. In the 1990s, Richaud became a member of the Association des Vins Naturals and emerged as both one of the leaders of the natural wine movement and an influential advocate for the elevation of his home appellation of Cairanne. He is also an avid hang glider, even today into his 70s! 

Richaud understands that the same winemaking cannot be applied year after year and the winemaker must adapt to the conditions of nature. Sometimes an addition of sulfur is necessary, but whatever the case, it’s important to try to stick to his philosophy which is to not alter the expression of the fruit. Domaine Richaud is widely considered to be the finest producer in the appellation Cairanne and has elevated this village to one of the best terroirs in the Côtes-du-Rhône. Marcel is joined today by his children Claire and Thomas in producing honest, vibrant, and extraordinarily drinkable wines from a lovely sector of the Rhône Valley.