Following the narrow roads that cross through the vineyards you begin to understand the riches of Châteauneuf du Pape: round pebbles, sand, safre, Urgonian limestone… these are the facets and singularities that forge the character of the wines.
I’m often asked the question « Which is the best terroir in Châteauneuf du Pape? ». Some of these terroirs are mythical, and a straight answer isn’t easy. The vintage, and notably the climatic conditions, are important factors to consider when answering this question. In dry years, the clay-marl terroirs on the plateau limit the hydraulic stress. Whereas in wetter years, the sandy terroirs offer a better compromise.
What is certain is that the richness of the Châteauneuf du Pape terroirs counts for a lot in the complexity of the wines, and in the diversity of expressions that can be found in wines from different domains.
When I’m creating my wines, I can play with this diversity to obtain the right balance in my blends.