The secret of old vines

Indigène & Grande Cuvée

Our eight hectares of old Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines, planted between 1951 and 1978, represent a magnificent heritage. The older the vine, the more extensive its root system and the more resilient it is to drought.

Above all, wines from vines that are decades old – whose roots can reach as deep as 20 metres into the ground – taste richer and more complex. These are wines of character, ideally suited to ageing and enjoyable for many years to come, reflecting the essence of their terroir. In our region, this means the warmth of summer days, the cool of the nights, the minerals and herbs of our soils, and the Mistral. And these are wines to pair with meat in autumn – with lamb and game.

However, old vines also have a major drawback. The older the plants get, the lower their yield. At the same time, they are not suitable for mechanical harvesting. Whilst vines used to be planted to last for hundreds of years, since the phylloxera epidemic they have generally been replanted every 25 years. Quality purists who do not follow this advice must therefore live with very low yields, often just 10–15 hectolitres per hectare. And connoisseurs of such wines must pay a premium ...