Chateau Ricardelle
Do not confuse the Château with Domaine Ricardelle which is next door, with adjoining buildings, including a bright yellow tower. Their grapes go to the cooperative. Chateau Ricardelle is the property of Bruno Pellegrini who came from the Alto Adige and bought the estate in 1989. He will soon be celebrating his 90th birthday and I met his daughter Orphelie who manages the estate.
They had started the harvest, picking grapes for the rosé and white in late August. And some older plots of Syrah were picked at the beginning of September and the day before our visit a little later in September, Merlot, Sangiovese and Marselan. 60% of their 38 hectares is harvested mechanically. The average altitude of the vines is between 100- 150 metres. Their winemaker is Bruno Lepine, who replaced their previous wine maker, Fabrice who was with them for 15 years, but sadly died very suddenly last December.
2024 la Clape white, Vignelacroix - 14.50€
40% Bourboulenc, 20% Roussanne, 25% Vermentino, 15% Piquepoul. In wood for three months,
Light colour. Quite firm nose with a slightly bitter note of acidity. Firm fruit. A salty finish.
2024 Rosé, AOP Languedoc 12.50€
Light pink. Light raspberry fruit. Ripe with a rounded finish.
2023 Sangiovese, Les Dames de Ricardelle, Vin de France - 8.00€
13.5% Just one hectare of Sangiovese. Vinified in vat. Some stalky red fruit on nose and palate. Quite firm; quite sturdy and a ripe finish, but also a slightly astringent note of sour cherries.
2022 Combemale, Languedoc - 10.00€
A blend of 30% each of Grenache and Carignan with 20% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre. If you have more than 30% Carignan, the wine is no longer AOP La Clape. No wood.
Medium colour. Quite rounded and ripe with supple tannins. A youthful finish. Easy drinking.
2023 Vignelacroix - 14.50€
In a not very practical elongated Italian bottle. 50% Grenache, and 25% each of Syrah and Carignan. 8 months in wood. Good colour. Rounded spicy nose and palate, with subtle nuances of flavour. A sélection parcellaire from a plot called Croix.
2023 Closablières
45% Syrah with 30% Carignan and 25% Grenache. 8 months in wood. A specific vineyard. Medium colour. Quite a firm nose, with some black olive and tapenade fruit. And a firm palate, with some sturdy tannins. Plenty of ageing potential.
2022 Vendredi Xlll
60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 10% each of Carignan and Mourvèdre. The name is a reference to the fact that on Friday 13th June 2014 it hailed for 40 minutes, and only on the vineyards of Richardelle, as hail can be so unfairly localised. The neighbours fared much better and only lost 20% of their trip. They lost almost their entire crop and produced just 4000 bottles.
12 months in wood. Deep colour. Much more solid and rounded with some tannins. Ripe and quite an alcoholic finish. Quite gutsy and mouthfilling.
2013 Cuvée Juliette - after Orphelie’s daughter
70% Syrah with 20% Carignan and 10% Grenache. 15 months in barriques.
Good colour. Rounded evolving nose. Quite firm study nose and palate. Quite alcoholic with some sturdy tannins. 14.5% It tasted much younger than 12 years old.
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