Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone Wine, Complete Guide

Fontavin

Everything about Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important wineries and wine makers from the Rhone valley: Links to all Rhone Valley Wine Producer Profiles

Domaine de Fontavin is a new producer in Chateauneuf du Pape as the estate only started to produce, bottle, and sell its wine in 1989. But the Chouvet family has a long history in the Southern Rhone Valley as wine growers.

Helene Chouvet, who manages Domaine de Fontavin today is the 7th generation of vine growers to continue the family tradition. Helene Chouvet began working full-time at Domaine de Fontavin in 1996. She was followed by Agathe Lauziere, who started at the property full-time in 2001. In 2008, Domaine de Fontavin moved to 100% organic farming techniques for all their vineyards.

Domaine de Fontavin Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking

Domaine de Fontavin owns 9 hectares of vines in Chateauneuf du Pape. 8.6 hectares are used for growing the red grape varietals. .4 hectares are used for the production of white Chateauneuf du Pape wine.

Domaine de Fontavin uses 100% organic farming techniques in all their vineyards. They were certified as Agriculture Biologiqe in 2011. Domaine de Fontavin has old Grenache vines, the oldest of which date back more than 75 years.

Domaine de Fontavin produces 6 red Chateauneuf du Pape wines and 1 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc.

Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape is produced from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. The vines are on average 40 years of age. The wine is aged for up to 18 months in a combination used, French oak barrels and demi-muids. The production is 2,500 cases per vintage.

Domaine de Fontavin David and Goliat made its debut in 1995. The wine is made from almost 100% old vine Grenache. Up to 5% Syrah can be included, depending on the vintage.

The fruit comes from their oldest vines which are more than 75 years of age. The vines are planted in the rock-strewn terroir found in the Les Saumades vineyard. The wine is aged in a combination of demi-muids and French oak barrels for 12 months. The production is slightly less than 1,300 cases per year.

Domaine de Fontavin Terre d’Ancetres is made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. The vines are planted in the Le Gres, Saintes Vierges and Les Sauvines lieu-dits, where you find a terroir of mostly rocks and stones with some sand clay. The wine is aged in tank.

Domaine de Fontavin Trilogies blends 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 5% Mouvedre. The vines are planted in red clay, rock and sandstone terroir on terraces of sandy loam soils. The wine is aged in a combination of cement tanks and demi-muids for 15 months before bottling.

Domaine de Fontavin Libre blends equal parts of Grenache and Syrah. The grapes come from a parcel of vines planted in most sand with small stones in the terroir. The small production Cuvee is aged in 2 ceramic eggs for 12 months prior to bottling.

Domaine de Fontavin Empire usually consists of blending about 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. On average, the vines range from 40-80 years of age. The terroir is clay with rocks and stones, The wine is aged in a combination of traditional cement vats and 600-liter French oak barrels. It is interesting to note that Empire is only sold in select countries.

Domaine de Fontavin Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is made from a blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Roussanne. The wine is aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels for 6 months.

In addition to Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine de Fontavin also owns vines throughout the Southern Rhone in various appellations, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, and in Cotes du Rhone.

When to Drink Domaine de Fontavin, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Domaine de Fontavin can be enjoyed on the young side. Young vintages can be popped and poured, or decanted for about 1 hour, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Domaine de Fontavin is usually better with 3-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages, the wine should be consumed within 5-12 years after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Domaine de Fontavin with Wine, Food Pairing Tips

Domaine de Fontavin is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Domaine de Fontavin is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, barbecue, and cassoulet. Domaine de Fontavin is also good with Asian dishes, and hearty fish courses like tuna, mushroom pasta, eggplant, cheese and tomatoes.

The white wine of Domaine de Fontavin is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

Domaine de Fontavin also produces red, white, and rose’ wine in the Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Cotes du Rhone appellations from 31 hectares of vines they own. The vineyards are divided as follows; 16 hectares in the Cotes du Rhone, 6 hectares in Gigondas, 4 hectares in Vacqueyras, and 3 hectares in the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise as well as one hectare of unclassified vines.

www.fontavin.com

Domaine de Fontavin Wine Tasting Notes

21 Vintages 26,109 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2021
92
Roasted red fruits, spice, black cherries, and flower aromatics open the wine. Medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, with a soft, creamy, kirsch mid-palate, and finish, with a hint of cocoa on the backend, this will be easy-to-enjoy on release. The wine was produced from blending mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah, and Mourvedre. Drink from 2024-2031.

Roasted red fruits, spice, black cherries, and flower aromatics open the wine. Medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, with a soft, creamy, kirsch mid-palate, and finish, with a hint of cocoa on the backend, this will be easy-to-enjoy on release. The wine was produced from blending mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah, and Mourvedre. Drink from 2024-2031.

225 Views   Tasted
2021
92
Garrigue, and peppery herbs join the kirsch notes in the perfume. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, creamy, and fresh, with a nice, sweet, cherry filled finish. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2024-2032.

Garrigue, and peppery herbs join the kirsch notes in the perfume. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, creamy, and fresh, with a nice, sweet, cherry filled finish. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2024-2032.

225 Views   Tasted
2021
91
Licorice, flowers, cherries, and strawberry notes open the wine. On the palate, you find a soft, elegant, fresh, sweet, early-drinking charmer with a core of sweet, red berries from start to finish. The wine blends old vine Grenache with Syrah. Drink from 2024 - 2029.

Licorice, flowers, cherries, and strawberry notes open the wine. On the palate, you find a soft, elegant, fresh, sweet, early-drinking charmer with a core of sweet, red berries from start to finish. The wine blends old vine Grenache with Syrah. Drink from 2024 - 2029.

225 Views   Tasted
2020
93
Black plums, flowers, spice, smoke, barbecue and raw meat notes show in the perfume. The round, lush, peppery, rich palate is plush, polished, spicy, fruity and fresh. The wine was produced from blending mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink from 2023-2035.

Black plums, flowers, spice, smoke, barbecue and raw meat notes show in the perfume. The round, lush, peppery, rich palate is plush, polished, spicy, fruity and fresh. The wine was produced from blending mostly old vine Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink from 2023-2035.

1,420 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Black raspberries, kirsch and flowers on the nose with sweet, cherries, licorice and ripe plums on the supple, soft, medium-bodied are already a pleasure to taste. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2032.

Black raspberries, kirsch and flowers on the nose with sweet, cherries, licorice and ripe plums on the supple, soft, medium-bodied are already a pleasure to taste. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Drink from 2022-2032.

1,395 Views   Tasted
2019
93
It is all the just cracked black pepper covered kirsch and tapenade that gets your attention on the nose. The fruit is earthy, meaty, herbal and fresh with loads of concentration, length and dusty tannins with a note of cocoa on the backend of the finish. The wine blends 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. Drink from 2024 - 2037

It is all the just cracked black pepper covered kirsch and tapenade that gets your attention on the nose. The fruit is earthy, meaty, herbal and fresh with loads of concentration, length and dusty tannins with a note of cocoa on the backend of the finish. The wine blends 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. Drink from 2024 - 2037

1,375 Views   Tasted
2019
90
A touch of vanilla, smoke, flowers, plums and kirsch pop with no effort on the nose. On the palate the wine is forward, soft, medium-bodied, polished and fruity with a blast of ripe kirsch in the end note that sticks with you. Drink from 2023 - 2033

A touch of vanilla, smoke, flowers, plums and kirsch pop with no effort on the nose. On the palate the wine is forward, soft, medium-bodied, polished and fruity with a blast of ripe kirsch in the end note that sticks with you. Drink from 2023 - 2033

1,320 Views   Tasted
2018
92
Lusciously textured, all the old vine Grenache feels great on your palate. The wine is soft, round and polished with notes of thyme, spice, olives and herbs to round things out.

Lusciously textured, all the old vine Grenache feels great on your palate. The wine is soft, round and polished with notes of thyme, spice, olives and herbs to round things out.

973 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Floral, forward, fresh and fruity, the wine is medium-bodied, earthy, herbal and delivers a strong, peppery olive kick in the finish.

Floral, forward, fresh and fruity, the wine is medium-bodied, earthy, herbal and delivers a strong, peppery olive kick in the finish.

879 Views   Tasted
2016
95
Round, forward, juicy and lush, this modern styled wine pops with espresso, smoke, black cherries and spice. Lush and polished, ripe and sweet, this concentrated and complex wine can age, as well as show great in its youth, due to its round, fruit filled, open character. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache and 5% Syrah and is aged in mostly, new oak barrels.

Round, forward, juicy and lush, this modern styled wine pops with espresso, smoke, black cherries and spice. Lush and polished, ripe and sweet, this concentrated and complex wine can age, as well as show great in its youth, due to its round, fruit filled, open character. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache and 5% Syrah and is aged in mostly, new oak barrels.

2,118 Views   Tasted
2016
92
Floral, soft and polished, with silky, polished tannins, freshness and just enough spicy, peppery, black raspberry in the finish to satisfy. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre.

Floral, soft and polished, with silky, polished tannins, freshness and just enough spicy, peppery, black raspberry in the finish to satisfy. The wine was produced blending 80% Grenachre, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre.

1,662 Views   Tasted
2015
92
Spicy red fruits, silky and fresh, with a real depth of flavor that starts and stays with you. The finish has a hint of dark cocoa in the end too, that is a nice touch as ti compliments the sweet, red berries. The wine was produced from blending 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.

Spicy red fruits, silky and fresh, with a real depth of flavor that starts and stays with you. The finish has a hint of dark cocoa in the end too, that is a nice touch as ti compliments the sweet, red berries. The wine was produced from blending 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre.

1,372 Views   Tasted
2015
91
Lusty and luscious fruits, with sweetness in the kirsch at its core, there is lots of kirsch and more sweet fruit in the finish. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache and 5% Syrah.

Lusty and luscious fruits, with sweetness in the kirsch at its core, there is lots of kirsch and more sweet fruit in the finish. The wine is produced from 95% old vine Grenache and 5% Syrah.

1,710 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Medium bodied, refined, soft, forward and fresh, I liked the juicy, blast of ripe kirsch that sticks with you.

Medium bodied, refined, soft, forward and fresh, I liked the juicy, blast of ripe kirsch that sticks with you.

1,302 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Medium bodied, soft, polished, forward, early drinking wine with a tasty, black raspberry and peppery core of fruits.

Medium bodied, soft, polished, forward, early drinking wine with a tasty, black raspberry and peppery core of fruits.

1,279 Views   Tasted
2012
91
There is a blast of oak in the nose that is made better by the lusty, plush, supple fruits on the palate that was produced from a blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah.

There is a blast of oak in the nose that is made better by the lusty, plush, supple fruits on the palate that was produced from a blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Syrah.

1,376 Views   Tasted
2012
90
Medium bodied, spicy red fruits and good freshness are found in this forward styled wine that was produced from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah.

Medium bodied, spicy red fruits and good freshness are found in this forward styled wine that was produced from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah.

1,352 Views   Tasted
2011
90
95% Grenache and 5% Syrah produced a medium bodied, silky wine with sweet, black cherries and a hint of jam. The wine is fresh and forward in style and reached 15% ABV.

95% Grenache and 5% Syrah produced a medium bodied, silky wine with sweet, black cherries and a hint of jam. The wine is fresh and forward in style and reached 15% ABV.

1,109 Views   Tasted
2011
87
Elegant and soft, this medium bodied, lighter styled, red berry filled wine display’s some dryness in the finish.

Elegant and soft, this medium bodied, lighter styled, red berry filled wine display’s some dryness in the finish.

1,261 Views   Tasted
2010
90
Incense, licorice and jammy berries, full bodied, fresh, and balanced, but perhaps a bit too much oak in this modern adaption of Chateauneuf du Pape which leaves it feeling a little bit dry in the finish. If it comes together with time, it will be a better wine, deserving a higher score.

Incense, licorice and jammy berries, full bodied, fresh, and balanced, but perhaps a bit too much oak in this modern adaption of Chateauneuf du Pape which leaves it feeling a little bit dry in the finish. If it comes together with time, it will be a better wine, deserving a higher score.

2,145 Views   Tasted
2009
91
Silky, polished, forward, medium bodied and just delicious today, the wine is all about the sweet, ripe, kirsch, black raspberry and peppery notes. It is not a wine to lay down, it's going to be best over the next few years.

Silky, polished, forward, medium bodied and just delicious today, the wine is all about the sweet, ripe, kirsch, black raspberry and peppery notes. It is not a wine to lay down, it's going to be best over the next few years.

1,386 Views   Tasted