Domaine de la Dorgonne is located in the south of the Luberon at 350 meters of elevation, amidst oak trees, lavender, thyme, rosemary and truffles, giving the wine its Provençal flavor. The earth here is marked by the sea, which covered it in the past. It is formed by 60% sable, and consists of a layer of marine fossils and deposits. The microclimate at la Dorgonne plays an important role in these wines: little rain, the Mistral wind that dries and clears the air, and strong, almost constant sun. These elements, as well as the ebb and flow of temperature between day and night and between the seasons, combine and enhance one another to give la Dorgonne its uniqueness and originality, giving rise to a spectacular “vin de terroir.”

Grape Varieties
Syrah, Grenache Noire, Cinsaut, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Ugni Blanc, Rolle, Grenache
Blanc.

Mission
Quality remains foremost in our minds, and in order to make the best possible wine, the farming methods employed at la Dorgonne produce, with individual character of each vintage, a great “terrior wine” whose combined parts express the character of the vineyard in a way that more intensive farming could not.

Viticulture
To make wine of character, grapes must have good taste. For this reason, we do not use chemical fertilizers, preferring compost made from “fumier ovin,” which, once mixed into the soil, maintains its humus content and microbiological equilibrium.

Vinification & Aging
The harvest is hand-picked and only the best grapes are vinified. Once fermentation is finished, the wine is aged in a combination of small French oak barrels, concrete tanks and 30 hl large oak barrels for twelve to eighteen months. The wine is then put into large oak barrels to age for five to eight months. Here, the wine prepares itself, evolving & maturing until the the right moment has come to bottle the wine. When young, the wine of la Dorgonne has overtones of flowers, fruits and grain. As it ages, the nose becomes more subtle, spicy and complex.

All bottles produced at la Dorgonne are “mises au Château,” which means that we assume full responsibility for our wine.

Enjoyment
To best enjoy a bottle of la Dorgonne, please ensure that you serve neither the red too warm nor the white too cold. We recommend that you serve the red at 60° Fahrenheit and the white at 50° F. Carafe the red at least 5 hours before serving to liberate the “arômes.”