Wine Wednesday: Les Petits Secrets, Côtes du Rhône

This week for #WineWednesday, we are celebrating the newest release from the girl & the fig, the 2018 Les Petits Secrets, Côtes du Rhône! This is an incredible expression of Grenache that was lovingly made by Sondra’s dear friend Anne-Charlotte Mélia Bachas from Château Font du Loup. Only 50 cases of this wine was made, and it is available by both the bottle and the glass at the restaurants, as well as online.

Anne-Charlotte Mélia Bachas’ wines are from Château Font du Loup (Fountain of the Wolf), located on the north side of the famous plateau. These wines are not what you would consider typical Châteauneuf du Papes. Anne-Charlotte has a special way to bring out the grapes’ natural finesse to create exquisitely unique wines that tell the tale of her family’s terroir.

The vineyards for Château Font du Loup are located on the north side of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the south of France’s most important wine producing commune. The vineyards are planted with Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre. Château Font du Loup has roughly 20 organically farmed hectares, including holdings in the La Crau and Font du Loup vineyards, and is planted on mostly sandy soil with rocks with vines that are over 100 years old. Usually the sand is not the most appropriate soil for a vineyard, because it doesn’t hold enough water. But a water spring nearby creates a 50 meter deep source, so the vineyard can irrigate itself when it needs. It is located in one of the coolest appellations, which in turn supports a slow ripening of the grapes. One cannot speak of the terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape without mentioning the ever-present Mistral winds; winds that can reach speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.

During harvest, grapes are hand-picked, selected and put in small crates to keep the grapes intact. Fermentation is separated by the different plots in barrels and/or tanks, with indigenous yeasts. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is truly one of the greatest terroirs in the world of wine and certainly one of France’s greatest.

Tasting notes From Cecily: Light garnet with hues of violet, this wine opens up with aromas of oak, earth, and delicate florals, followed by flavors of currant and cranberry. The light body, elegant and balanced structure, bright acidity, and mild tannins on the palate make this easy-drinking wine wonderful for food pairing.