A La Tache, Saint Joseph
AOC: St Joseph
Variety: Syrah
Viticulture: Organic
Size: 2.1 hectares
Production: 250 cases annually
Terroir: Granite
Variety: Syrah
Viticulture: Organic
Size: 2.1 hectares
Production: 250 cases annually
Terroir: Granite
A La Tâche isn't your usual Domaine. Started in the early 2000s by Kamel, Fabien, and a small group of friends from Tournon, their goal was to work vineyards naturally for the vignerons around the area. They do it all – rebuilding terrasses, plowing, effeuillage, taille. Quite often when you talk to them, they like to remind you that their first love is working the land. Our dear friend Eric Texier hires them for various work in Brezeme, Jaboulet works with them very often, as do other big names in the northern Rhone. Most of this group of friends are Muslims and don't drink. Most except one, Fabien Bergeron, who "makes" the wines. Fabien has been around St Joseph for a while and has been friends and learned from every legendary name you can think of.
The domaine works two very different parcels. Badel is a northern slope between Tournon and Mauves, on the classic granite that is all around the AOC. Because of the northern exposure, the grapes are harvested a month after everyone else is done, usually in November, bringing barely 12% alc. Badel is all terrasse and as hard as it gets to work. Everything has to be done manually.
Guillamy is a more classic St. Joe terroir, also on granite, but with southern exposure bringing ripeness much earlier and between 12.5 and 13.5% alcohol every year. It is located in Mauves and about 1.3 hectares. The vineyard is 20 to 40 years old.
Fabien makes wine the way he was taught by the most old school people in the AOC and around. We're not going to drop names, but let's say that if you ever spent over $1,000 on a bottle of northern Rhone, he was probably friends with that guy. He uses no temperature control and no SO2, but has no interest in being part of a natural wine movement. Fabien does it that way because that's how it was done by the old guys he learned from. The wines are pure, precise, classic examples of the AOC, Badel being a lighter, brighter wine and Guillamy a more classic expression of St. Joseph.
Guillamy is a more classic St. Joe terroir, also on granite, but with southern exposure bringing ripeness much earlier and between 12.5 and 13.5% alcohol every year. It is located in Mauves and about 1.3 hectares. The vineyard is 20 to 40 years old.
Fabien makes wine the way he was taught by the most old school people in the AOC and around. We're not going to drop names, but let's say that if you ever spent over $1,000 on a bottle of northern Rhone, he was probably friends with that guy. He uses no temperature control and no SO2, but has no interest in being part of a natural wine movement. Fabien does it that way because that's how it was done by the old guys he learned from. The wines are pure, precise, classic examples of the AOC, Badel being a lighter, brighter wine and Guillamy a more classic expression of St. Joseph.