2020 André Brunel Cuvée Sommelongue

The Cuvée Sommelongue is Grenache at its best. The Sommelongue (or the Sommelier cuvee) is a blend of Grenache (85%), Mourvèdre (5%), Syrah (5%) and Cinsault (5%) and comes from a single piece of land located north of Orange, which benefits of ideal sunshine. This allows the Grenache to ripen under perfect conditions. The clay and calcareous soils are on a gravel base, which helps with drainage and drying after rain. Well-managed ground cover partially reduces the vigor of the Grenache and results in moderate yields, giving the wines perfect ripeness and good balance.

The fermentation of the grapes takes place in concrete, of which 80% is destemmed and the remainder is full bunches. The Sommelongue first undergoes a short cold fermentation for 24 hours, followed by a warm fermentation for 4 weeks with punching on the cap and rack and return. The malolactic fermentation takes place in enameled barrels for 1 year. This wine is great when young to really enjoy the ever-present red fruit, or is good after a number of years when the more complex aromas of leather, jammy fruit and undergrowth have appeared. Despite the ripeness and full aromas of red fruit, this is a relatively cool and subdued style of Cotes-du-Rhone. Very firm tannins anchor this, giving the aftertaste weight and warmth without making the wine feel heavy.

FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send it to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. We are almost next to the highway with plenty of parking. Click here for address.

ABOUT ANDRE BRUNEL

The family has been present on the territory of Châteauneuf du Pape since the 17th century and has been completely dedicated to wine for five generations. As early as the 17th century, the family's wine-growing activity was confirmed by the purchase of a plot of vineyard north of the appellation of the Bishop of Avignon. Many generations succeed each other in the service of winemaking, but it was not until 1954 that Lucien Brunel created the Les Cailloux brand to develop and publicize the specific characteristics and qualities of the estate's wines. In 1971, André Brunel took over the operation of the estate. Under his leadership, the estate will experience rapid growth: acquisition of vines in Côtes du Rhône and in Vin de Pays, launch of the famous Cuvée Centenaire in 1989. He also implements important changes in the management of the vine by becoming one of the first in Chateauneuf du Pape to have a non-chemical approach to growing vines. In 2012, his son, Fabrice Brunel, joined him to continue the family history. The estate is divided into three appellations: of course Châteauneuf du Pape, but also Côtes du Rhône and Vin de Pays de Vaucluse. The search for quality, respect for the terroirs and the ambition to always offer our customers wines that they will be able to appreciate as they age, have led us to pay utmost care to their production, regardless of the name. The differences mainly concern maturation times (longer for Chateauneuf, shorter for Vins de Pays to make them more quickly accessible) and the use of barrels (for Syrahs in Chateauneuf du Pape to round out the tannins, absent on the Côtes du Rhône and the Vins de Pays to preserve the freshness of the fruit). The desire is to produce wines characteristic of their terroir and their origin, while remaining elegant and of great finesse.