Domaine de Trevallon ★ 4.9
IGP AlpillesCabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne17 haFounded 1973Durrbach familyWinemaker Antoine Durrbach (with Floriane Durrbach)Biodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
Eloi Durrbach planted Trevallon in the Alpilles foothills in 1973 and bottled the first vintage in 1976. The wine declassified to vin de pays in 1994 after the AOC required a maximum 20 percent Cabernet (the Trevallon blend is 50-50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah). Now bottled as IGP Alpilles and considered an IGP Alpilles cult red.
Tasting: No regular public visits; wines sold on allocation through importers
Signature wines: Domaine de Trevallon Rouge, Domaine de Trevallon Blanc
Tip: The Blanc, a Marsanne-Roussanne blend in small quantity, is even harder to source than the rouge.
Les Baux-de-Provence AOCGrenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle, Clairette58 haFounded 1903Missoffe and Poniatowski familiesORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
The founder's great-granddaughters Caroline Missoffe and Anne Poniatowski run the 300-hectare estate at the foot of Les Baux-de-Provence, with 58 hectares of certified organic vineyard plus 28 hectares of olive groves.
Tasting: Tastings at the on-site shop; cellar visits by appointment
Signature wines: Mas de la Dame Coin Cache, Mas de la Dame La Stele Rouge, Mas de la Dame La Gourmande Rose
Tip: The Coin Cache red is the estate's cellar candidate; the Gourmande rose is the everyday Provence picnic wine.
Les Baux-de-Provence AOC, IGP AlpillesGrenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carignan, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette15 haFounded 1988Dominique HauvetteWinemaker Dominique HauvetteBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
Dominique Hauvette planted her first two hectares at Saint-Remy-de-Provence in 1988 and now works 15 hectares biodynamically. Vinifications use no added sulfur and the wines age in concrete eggs.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings strictly by appointment
Signature wines: Domaine Hauvette Cornaline, Domaine Hauvette Amethyste Rose, Domaine Hauvette Roucas Blanc
Tip: Cornaline (Cabernet-Grenache-Syrah blend) is the cellar candidate; the Amethyste rose ages remarkably well.
Les Baux-de-Provence AOCGrenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolle40 haFounded 1759Cartier familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
Cartier family estate at Le Destet (Mouries), one of the founding organic producers of the Alpilles (now over 50 years of certified organic farming). 40 hectares of vineyard plus 20 hectares of olive groves at the heart of the Les Baux AOC.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings at the on-site shop; check website for hours
Signature wines: Mas de Gourgonnier Tradition Rouge, Mas de Gourgonnier Reserve du Mas
Tip: Reserve du Mas, the long-aged red cuvee, is the cellar choice; the table-friendly Tradition pairs with Mediterranean lamb.
Les Baux-de-Provence AOCGrenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Rolle, Roussanne56 haFounded 1988Carolyne and Stan SheetzDemeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
Estate at Saint-Remy-de-Provence below the ruins of a 13th-century Templar castle. 56 hectares of vineyard, certified organic, Demeter biodynamic and a member of Biodyvin.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; on-site park and ruins of the 13th-century Templar castle open to visitors
Signature wines: Chateau Romanin Grand Vin, Chateau Romanin Coeur de Romanin, Chateau Romanin Blanc
Tip: The Coeur de Romanin red is the estate's small-lot prestige cuvee.
Les Baux-de-Provence AOCGrenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Rolle31 haFounded 1990Reynaud familyDemeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDLes Baux-de-Provence
31 hectares of certified Demeter biodynamic vineyard plus 25 hectares of olive groves at Mouries in the Alpilles foothills. The estate has been working organically since planting and certified Demeter biodynamic since 2015.
Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; contact the estate to arrange
Signature wines: Domaine de Lauzieres Equinoxe, Domaine de Lauzieres Cailloutis Blanc, Domaine de Lauzieres Eole Rose
Tip: The Equinoxe red, low-sulfite and old-vine, is the estate's most expressive cuvee.
