Domaine Richeaume - Cuvée Columelle 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This estate, located at the foot of Sainte-Victoire Mountain, belongs to the Hoesch family. It is cultivated using organic farming methods and offers a range of wines, with the reds based mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The wines are powerful, well-aged, elegant, and have just the right amount of fresh fruitiness.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

In 1972, Henning Hoesch and his wife Julia discovered this abandoned estate at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire cliff. They replanted the vineyard and began cultivating their first three hectares of organic land. Over the years, they created large terraced plots on the most promising terroirs, which now produce the grapes for the estate's great wines, "Les Terrasses" and "Cuvée Columelle." A holistic approach, natural winemaking, and organic cultivation in the vineyards are as important to him as the quality of his wines. As enthusiastic as his father, Sylvain Hoesch, born in 1970, joined the estate in 2001. He manages the estate and the vineyard, which now covers 27 hectares, with the same rigor and quality standards as his father. He decided to place the entire 2008 production under the IGP (protected geographical indication) label, which replaced the "Vin de Pays" designation.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

We are pleasantly surprised by the reds, which are much less oaky. The fruit is appealing in the 2012 Columella vintage, with acidity on the finish.

About the estate:

This estate is beautifully located above the village of Puyloubier, at the foot of Mont Sainte-Victoire, in a natural setting of red earth. Its history dates back forty years. Henning Hoesch, originally from Germany and professor of canon law at the University of Aix-en-Provence, bought this 65-hectare estate, which was then completely uncultivated. He planted 3 hectares of vines, which he cultivated using organic methods (certified in 1972). Very quickly, the wines distinguished themselves through their intense body and power. In the years that followed, their style was refined through more controlled vinification and wood aging. As with the greatest winemakers, respect for the soil and non-intervention in the cultivation of the vines are combined with modern winemaking tools. The cellar is equipped with high-performance tools that enable the creation of the famous Les Terrasses and Columelle cuvées, which we rank among the two best reds in Provence. Depending on the inspiration offered by the vintage, Sylvain's son develops other more original cuvées, highlighting the exceptional plant heritage that makes up the Richeaume vineyard. It should be noted, however, that the prices are becoming very high...