Last spring (April 28, 2012), I wrote about three wineries
that I thought were worth visiting when in Provence or seeing if an importer
brings their wines to your area. One of the wineries about which I wrote was Domaine des Escaravailles (www.domaine-escaravailles.com).
Thanks to Philip Reddaway and his Facebook page La Madelene Rhone Wine Holidays, there is more to report on this
winery. Phil made two entries in Facebook about Domaine des Escaravailles.
By the way, the name of the winery is Occitan for Scarab
beetle. The winery chose the name because, in the 17th century,
monks tended the vines and, in the heat of the day, they would pull the hoods
of their dark robes over their heads to protect themselves from the sun. From a
distance, they looked like scarab beetles moving through the rows of grape
vines.
When we were
getting ready to leave Vaison la Romaine last spring, we made a final visit to
Domaine des Escaravailles and I asked the pourer in the tasting room about the
single-varietal (Grenache) and when it might be available. She said that they
planned to bottle it in November. I said that we planned to return in December
to which she suggested that I might want to call and reserve a case or two because
it was going to go fast.
A torn meniscus
distracted me for the remaining time in the US ,
so I did not call but was relieved to learn, when we visited the winery after
our return to France
(“1924” refers
to the age of some of the grapevines.)
On February 18,
Philip Reddaway wrote the following for La
Madelene Rhone Wine Holidays in Facebook:
“In the March issue of "Decanter" JLL reviews the aoc of
Rasteau: "how is this new Cru shaping up and who are the star
performers?". Delighted to see that Domaine des Escaravailles, a favorite
tour visit, came out on top of their blind tasting - the specific winning wine
= their old vine Grenache "1924". Chapeau Giles!” (Gilles Ferran is the owner/winemaker at
Domaine des Escaravailles.)
A week earlier, La Madelene Rhone Wine Holidays
included another
reference to Domaine des Escaravailles with a new wine venture. Philip Reddaway
posted the following from a review by Lincoln Silakus:
“So, what can I say about the standout wine of the day, the Calendal, a joint venture of Gilles Ferran (Domaine Escaravailles, Rasteau) and Philippe Cambie? I suspect that, for Gilles, it's
a bit of fun, as this is quite unlike his more elegant Escaravailles wines.
Cambie, the larger-than-life Rhone
guru-oenologist, makes wines with an equivalent girth; big enough, in other
words to be seen by Robert Parker. The Calendal, from 4.4 hectares of
bush vines of old Grenache and Mourvedre (30% – yum!) is huge, fruity and succulent. It ages in barrels that have been used
only once for over a year. The 14,000 bottles sell
out despite the hefty 16.50€ price (twice the average
for this appellation). A myth in the making.” Lincoln
When our Lansing
neighbors were visiting last week, they bought me some of the Calendal. We opened a bottle last
evening when friends were visiting and it is everything that Mr. Siliakus
suggests. Another great wine from Domaine des Escaravailles.
