In winemaking, blending is about merging varied elements to achieve harmony. I often venture beyond traditional boundaries, courageously combining grape varieties and different origins, plots, soils, and even vintages, sometimes stepping outside established appellations.

The ultimate goal is to create a standout wine tailored to each vintage. It's not merely about innovating for its sake but to enhance the wine's taste and structure. In this way, each wine becomes a unique work of art, perfectly aligned with every chosen component.

This view of blending goes beyond just mixing grapes or regions. It's about integrating multiple factors and crafting a richer and more intricate story.

At its core, blending merges different batches of juice to craft the ultimate wine. We sample from every vat and barrel, choosing based on the distinct structure, flavor, longevity, and depth of each batch. This often means making tough choices about what to include and what to leave out. Through this meticulous blending process, we paint the final masterpiece that is our wine.

I take blending a step further. I grant myself the freedom to blend vintages under the same appellation, holding back wines from several previous years, akin to the "reserve wines" in Champagne. My Réserve cuvée of Châteauneuf-du-Pape pays homage to these perpetual reserves, bringing together multiple vintages.

This unique vision has guided me from the outset. I employ the Champenoise method. This approach greatly inspired me at the beginning. My internships in Bordeaux also had a profound influence on this matter. Operating without any procurement contracts, free to make my choices year after year, selecting and purchasing the grapes I desire without any obligation to a specific vineyard owner, I cherish an unusual freedom. A breadth of expression that allows me to dance through the range of terroirs.

From this method springs forth each of my creations: the Arcane series, where every cuvée captures a specific vintage, grape variety, or terroir. There's the SM cuvée, short for Septentrional-Méridional, a harmonious blend of Syrah and Grenache from two complementary vintages. And let's not forget the 100% cuvée, a Côtes-du-Rhône that embodies the full spectrum of terroirs from the southern Rhône valley!

Embracing every appellation, and occasionally moving beyond them to adopt the Vin de France designation, allows me a perpetual canvas for reinvention. Above all, it empowers me to create wines I adore: ones that are precise, fresh, and picked at the peak of crunchy maturity to enhance their tension and vibrancy.