Moulin de la Gardette

Jean-Baptiste is the fifth generation winemaker behind the great property of Moulin de la Gardette in the Rhône region of Gigondas.

Gigondas has stepped out of the shadow of neighbouring Châteauneuf du Pape. Gigondas has more south facing slopes and higher elevations as well as varied soils that help distinguish the region.

Gigondas vineyards have been producing wine since Roman times. The name of the village in Roman times was “Jocunditas”, Latin for “Happy Town” – surely an accolade to those early winemakers! Back in 1670 the Archives de Rochegude noted the quality of the vineyards on the stony hill of la Gardette just outside the village of Gigondas, so it is no surprise that the Meunier family has been making good wine here for five generations.

Until the middle part of the twentieth century the slopes of la Gardette were not devoted solely to vines as they are now but grew olives, apricot and cherries, and even the Jurdic family goats grazed there. What little wine was produced was usually sold to negotiants, probably finding its way into the wines of nearby Chateauneuf du Pape.

In 1946 Victor Jurdic was in the vanguard of those winemakers who knew that Gigondas wines could establish a reputation of their own, and produced the first wines to be bottled under the la Gardette name. The appellation Moulin de la Gardette first appeared in 1958 after Geneviève Jurdic married Laurent Meunier who came from a struggling artistic and literary family in Paris. The “moulin” refers to the old windmill that once stood on the hill of la Gardette; however, although now millers by name, the Meunier – Jurdic families never worked the old mill which was, in fact, a wind-powered forge making horseshoes and tools, not flour or olive oil, as one might suppose.

The vines of la Gardette made fine Gigondas wine and, as the enterprise prospered, the Meunier family added other plots of land close around la Gardette. Nowadays, Jean Baptiste Meunier who took over the family business in 1990 tends mature vines with an average age of around 65 years in twenty-five different parcels of Gigondas garrigue.

In the Vineyard

Moulin de la Gardette is a small 10ha family owned property in Gigondas with vineyards stretching from the plateau close to the village to the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains.

Most of the vineyards face northwest, at elevations from 100m to 300m above sea level.

7ha are planted to Grenache and 3ha to other Southern Rhone varieties, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. The average age of the vines is 50years, but the oldest plantings now date back over a hundred years. The Grenache vines are mostly bush or ‘goblet’ trained, while some are staked for ‘vertical shoot positioning’ (VSP) training.

The various plots offer differing aspects and a variety of soil types, all are dry, forcing the vine roots to search deeply for moisture and bring up the rich mixture of mineral nutrients that add such complexity and character to the Gigondas terroir. Here, on the mountain edges of the southern Rhone valley, the Mistral sweeps the air clean almost every day of the year and brings relief from the fierce summer sun.

Yields are low in such conditions, only 27hl/ha is the result of typically dry growing conditions in the southern Rhône valley in the path of the relentless mistral wind.

The hard work in the stony vineyards is rewarded by deliciously concentrated flavours in the wine.

Since 2000 we have employed organic viticulture with minimal use of copper and pesticides to enhance soil microbiological activity and express the best of our terroir.

In the Winery

Jean Baptiste Meunier, owner and winemaker, studied traditional winemaking techniques in Carcassonne in 1982 and after graduation gained further practical experience working in California’s Napa Valley as well as Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas back in France. He is following his family tradition, with a modern twist, minimal intervention with careful attention.

Their philosophy is to let the grapes and the terroir express themselves.

Harvest usually takes place at the end of September and the wines ferment through to the end of October.

All grapes are hand harvested and hand sorted again at the winery to select only the highest quality. Some grape bunches are destemmed, but most are left whole with stems intact, only natural wild yeasts are used to ferment the wine. The alcoholic fermentation and a long post-fermentation maceration take place in cement tanks which provide more stable fermentation temperatures and allow a little oxygen to penetrate through to the wine.

‘Élévage’, or maturation, of the wine is done in big 50 hl oak foudres are as well as small 228l Burgundian old oak barrels.

The Cuvée Ventabren

A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault from the property’s oldest vines, ranging from 80 to 100 years of age. All fermentation is done in cement tanks and the wine is aged for 18 months in large oak foudres.

Varieties: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault. Age of vines: 80-100 years. Vinification: Grapes are handpicked, partially destemmed, vinified in cement tanks where a long post fermentation maceration takes place. The wine is aged for 18 months in big foudres. Light filtration is done just before bottling.

The “Tradition” 

A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah from vines averaging in age of 40 years. It is aged for about 18 months in mostly used foudre and demi-muid before bottling.

Varieties: 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault. Age of vines: 40 years. Vinification: Grapes are handpicked, partially destemmed, vinified in cement tanks where a long post fermentation maceration takes place. The wine is aged for 18 months in 228 l Burgundy barrels. Light filtration is done just before bottling.

Want more?

Check out our article “Getting Your Head Around the Southern Rhône Village of Gigondas”