2017 Chêne Bleu "Abélard" VDP Vaucluse, Rhone Valley, France

ABOUT THE WINE

Abélard is the more brooding and intellectual of Chêne Bleu’s flagship red cuvées, built primarily from old-vine Grenache (around 85%) and a supporting portion of Syrah. The 2017 vintage draws its concentration and balance from fruit grown at elevations nearing 550 meters in the Dentelles de Montmirail, a unique microclimate that tempers the Rhône’s sun with cool mountain breezes.

The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted with precision, and vinified with minimal intervention. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel and wood, followed by aging for 18–24 months in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. The result is a rich, age-worthy red with notes of blackberry compote, black olive, smoked meat, and exotic spice, framed by firm yet velvety tannins.

Decanting is recommended to allow its full aromatic complexity to emerge. Ideal pairings include grilled lamb, duck confit, game meats, and dishes with black truffle or rosemary.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Chêne Bleu is an ambitious, family-run estate perched at the crossroads of the Rhône and Provence, near the village of Crestet in Vaucluse. Set on a remote mountaintop and surrounded by UNESCO-protected biosphere, the estate dates back to the 9th century but was revitalized in the late 1990s by Xavier and Nicole Rolet, who transformed it into one of the Rhône’s most meticulous and visionary domaines.

Farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, Chêne Bleu emphasizes sustainability, precision, and respect for biodiversity. Winemaking is led by a Burgundian-influenced approach: strict selection, parcel-by-parcel vinification, and extended élevage to craft wines of elegance, structure, and longevity. The Abélard and Héloïse cuvées—named after the legendary medieval lovers—represent the estate’s philosophical and stylistic duality: power and grace, intellect and emotion, rooted in place and history.