Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone Wine, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau de la Gardine, Chateauneuf du Pape with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important wineries and winemakers from the Rhone valley: Links to all Rhone Valley Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau de la Gardine History, Overview

In its current state, Chateau de la Gardine dates only back to 1947. However, the property has a much longer history in Chateauneuf du Pape dating all the way back to at least the early 1700s.

When the estate was purchased by the well-known Brunel family in 1947, the vineyards were in poor shape after years of neglect and World War 2. At the time, the property at its best had about 10 hectares cultivated with vines.

The Brunel family, headed by Gaston Brunel began replanting the vineyards in their Southern Rhone Valley vineyards, expanding the estate and building the tower that is an important part of the landscape today. The winery was renovated again in 1989, this time with stainless steel fermenting tanks.

Since purchasing the estate with its original 10 hectares of vines, the Brunel family has managed to grow the vineyards into their current 52-hectare size today. Currently, Chateau de la Gardine is managed by Marie-Odile Brunel.

Chateau de la Gardine Vineyards, Wines, Winemaking

While most estates in Chateauneuf du Pape have vines spread out over the appellation, that is not the case with Chateau de la Gardine as most of their vineyards are next to each other in the northwest section of the appellation.

The 52-hectare vineyard of Chateau de la Gardine has a terroir of gravel, loam, limestone, and pebble soil. The oldest vines were planted in 1925. 48 hectares are planted for the production of red Chateauneuf du Pape wine.

4 hectares are reserved for white wine. The wines of Chateau de la Gardine are aged in a combination of small, French oak barrels and foudres.

The best vintages of Chateau de la Gardine are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2001, 2000 and 1998.

Chateau de la Gardine produces 4 red, Chateauneuf du Pape wines and 2 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc wines.

Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape – 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, and 5% Muscardin. The wine is aged in a combination of vats and barrels, on average this works out to 60% in vats, and 40% in barrel for close to 12 months. On average the production is about 11,500 cases per year.

Chateau de la Gardine Cuvee des Generations – 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre 20% Syrah. The wine comes from some of their oldest vines, some of which are more than 100 years of age.

The terroir is rocks, stones, limestone, sand, and clay soils in the la Gardine vineyard. The wine is aged in up to 100% new, French oak barrels for between 14-16 months. 800 cases are produced each year.

Chateau de la Gardine Cuvee Peur Bleu – 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 25% Mourvedre. The wine is aged in tanks for between 12 to 14 months. This is an odd wine and a bit experimental.

Chateau de la Gardine is making what is called a natural wine, meaning that it was bottled without any sulfur, making it unstable for long-term aging. The wine is not produced in every vintage. The production is small with only 250 cases made per year.

Chateau de la Gardine Cuvee l’Immortelle – 34% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre and 33% Syrah. The terroir is pure galets in the La Gardine lieu-dit. The wine is aged in a unique shaped vessel, short, conical French oak tank. Very little wine is produced making this impossible to find. Production is about 90 cases per year.

Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a blend of 45% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, 20% Roussanne and 10% Bourboulenc.

Chateau de la Gardine Cuvee de Generations Marie Leoncie Blanc is made from 90% old vine Roussanne and 10% Clariette. The vines are planted Urgonian limestone soils situated on the western portion of the estates’ vineyards. The wine is aged in mostly new, French oak barrels.

When to Drink Chateau de la Gardine, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau de la Gardine can be enjoyed on the young side. Young vintages can be popped and poured, or decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau de la Gardine is usually better with 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages, the wine should be consumed within 5-15 years after the vintage.

Serving Domaine de la Gardine with Wine, Food Pairing Tips

Domaine de la Gardine is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Domaine de la Gardine is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, barbecue, and cassoulet. Domaine de la Gardine is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant, cheese, and tomatoes.

The white wine of Domaine de La Gardine is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.

The family also produces wine in the Cotes du Rhone appellation and in Rasteau as well.

www.gardine.com