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Chante Cigale

Alexandre Favier began his viticultural studies in Orange at the age of fifteen and passed the exams four years later in 2001.  In 2002 (at age twenty!) he took over winemaking duties at the domaine when his father experienced health problems.  Like many family domaines with deep roots in Chateauneuf du Pape; (Alexandre’s grandfather Noel Sabon is from one of the best known winemaking families in the region) the young Alexandre was by his own account, “raised in the vineyards”.   

This is a traditional house with 40ha of red and 5ha of white.  Only native yeasts are employed and the reds are partly de-stemmed but not entirely.  They have parcels in all of the main soil types of Chateauneuf and they vinify the top parcels separately.  The red is a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault. The white is equal parts Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne and Bourbelenc.

 

www.chantecigale.com

 

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Chante Cigale

Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007

65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault. Average vine age is 45 years old. Destemmed at just about 100%. No herbicides used in the vineyards. 30% aged in used oak barrels.

 

Reviews
Readers looking for the bottled essence of Provence should check out the dark ruby/purple/plum-colored 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape, a brilliant blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault aged in a combination of old foudres, concrete tanks, and small new oak barrels. Deep, broad, profound plum, fig, cassis, garrigue, and cherry notes are found in both the aromas and flavors, and as the wine sits in the glass, roasted meat blood juices also emerge. Rich and intense with silky tannins, this wine will be even better with another 1-2 years of bottle age, and should last for 15 or more years. I wish I saw more of these wines in the marketplace as I have been a big fan of this estate since I first tasted their 1978s. None of the 2008s were presented for tasting, but the young Alexander Favier appears to be doing everything right. I did not see Chante Cigale’s 100-case cuvee of 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes Extrait from bottle (I rated it (92-95) last year), but it probably turned out spectacularly (of course there is virtually none of it). The two bottled 2007s I tasted were both outstanding.
Robert Parker,Wine Advocate # 185, Oct 2009

Review Score: 90


Country: France
Region: Southern Rhône
Producer: Chante Cigale
Farming Type Sustainable/Culture Raisonee
Product Code

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