Domaine Jean Royer -- ‘Le Petit Roy’ Rouge

“Elegance and finesse, rather than opulence, is what I want.”

Out of tragedy can come great determination. At age 2 the father of  current owner and winemaker Jean-Marie Royer suddenly passed away, leaving his mother no other option but to lease away their family vineyards to survive. Once Jean-Marie turned 18 he began his study of oenology, and was able to buy back his family’s land parcel by parcel.

Today his style is unique in Châteauneuf, more akin to a red Burgundy than a Rhône. Picking late and giving the grapes a slow fermentation. This “declassified CdP offers fantastic price/quality; while most of the grapes come from vineyards within CdP, a few do not, so they cannot claim the prestigious Châteauneuf du Pape name or price.. but you get the quality!

Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre

Region: Châteauneuf du Pape, Rhône Valley, France

Farming: Hand harvested from declassified CdP, sustainable

Winery: Partially de-stemmed, fermented in stainless and cement