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