Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone Wine

Brunel Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape

Les Cailloux, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rhone wine producer profile with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews and images. If you want to read about other important wineries and wine makers from the Rhone valley: Links to all Rhone Valley Wine Producer Profiles

André Brunel owns this well-known Chateauneuf du Pape property. He is the third generation of his family to manage the property. Fittingly, Domaine Les Cailloux takes its name from the cailloux roulés, which is the the French term for the large stones found littered all over the Chateauneuf du Pape region, and of course their vineyards. The Brunel family has a long history in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation. In fact, they’ve been in the area since the 1700′s.

The entire property of Domaine Les Cailloux is vast, covering well over 50 acres. Their vineyards occupy 17.3 hectares. The main grape variety they grow is Grenache. Some of their vines are among the oldest in Chateauneuf du Pape. They are close to 120 years old! The terroir is filled with loam, limestone and as we mentioned earlier, stones. They also have plantings on sandy terroir as well.

The Les Cailloux standard Chateauneuf du Pape is usually a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 3% of different grape varieties. The vines are on average 60 years of age. After harvest, about 70% of the grapes are destemmed. Following fermentation, the Grenache ages in enamel coated vats. The Syrah and Mourvedre are aged in 1 – 3 year-old small barrels. On average, the wines remain in vat or barrel for between 15 to 20 months, depending on the character and grape varietal.

The top wine of Les Cailloux is their Cuvee Centenaire, which made its debut in 1989. comes from their oldest Grenache from vines averaging over 100 years of age. About 10% Syrah and an equal portion of 10% Mourvedre are included in the blend. For this special wine, the Grenache ages for 15 to 20 months in a combination of foudres and one to three year old barrels. The other varieties age in demi muids. Not much of this is made, production hovers close to 500 cases per vintage, when the wine is produced.

Les Cailloux also produces a white Chateauneuf du Pape from mostly Roussanne with some Grenache Blanc and Clairette. There is a negociant Cotes du Rhone, Cuvée Sommelongue. He is in a partnership with Laurence Feraud from Domaine Pegau. The wine is called Feraud-Brunel.