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Intergenerational transmission
The Tour Saint Michel family adventure began in 1930, when founder Michel Fabre acquired the first vines in the commune of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He passed on his love of winegrowing to his son Henri, later joined by his wife Éliane. Together, they took up the torch and developed the 44-hectare estate, 30 of which are dedicated to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The parcels are located in the Gallimardes, Crouscroute, Petites Serres and Grand Coulet districts, in other words, in the southern part of the appellation.
In 2007, winemaker Mireille Porte joined the adventure, driven by her passion for the terroir, and breathed new life into the estate, while preserving the Fabre family tradition.
Later, the vineyard included other plots in the northern part of the appellation, at Terres Blanches, Brusquières and Fargueirol. The aim is to take full advantage of the richness of the region’s soils and to produce cuvées that are unique to Fabre, while incorporating contemporary values. Preserving nature and the terroir through sustainable viticulture is a key concern for the Tour Saint Michel team, who produce quality AOC wines that respect the environment.
The vineyard
The Tour Saint Michel estate is located in the Rhône Valley, which enjoys a pleasant climate with almost 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Rainfall and the Mistral wind clean and aerate the pebbly soils, allowing the vines to benefit from conditions conducive to their vitality.
Six grape varieties are used by the Fabre family. For red wines, they include Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The whites include Grenache blanc, Roussane and Clairette.
As part of its commitment to responsible farming, the Tour Saint Michel estate applies a reasoned soil cultivation method, using ploughs and no chemical herbicides. It’s only natural that Maison Fabre should obtain level 3 HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification, and since the 2020 vintage has been converting its vintages to organic farming.
The wines
On the nose, Châteauneuf-du-Pape red gives notes of fruit and spices typical of the terroir. Its ruby-red, deep garnet to purple color reflects the typical sunshine that cradles Rhône Valley grape varieties. On the palate, the different vintages offer something for every palate, from full-bodied red wines to powerful, expressive to velvety aromas.
The white Châteauneuf-du-Pape reveals a subtle golden color like the setting sun. The combination of Clairette and Grenache grapes produces floral aromas and freshness on the palate, a perfect accompaniment to iodized dishes.
The red Côtes-du-Rhône has a crimson color and aromas of red fruits. A pleasant mealtime wine, to be enjoyed young.
The white and rosé Côtes-du-Rhône reveal notes of stone fruit, freshness and gourmandise. Easy to drink as an aperitif, they also go perfectly with summer dishes.
Photos : Domaine Tour Saint Michel
Directeur artistique, Alfred Laurent est l'âme créative de la première place de marché direct producteur en France. Passionné de Beaujolais, de moto et de BD, il est toujours à l'affût de la nouvelle pépite !
