© Christophe Grilhé
Cairanne occupies a special place among the ten crus of the southern Rhone Valley. This charming village lies at the end of a rocky outcrop and is known for its red wines (95% of its total production) and a few more confidential white ones. These wines are generous and full-bodied, energetic and well-balanced, with tasty accents of the Mediterranean terroir.
Xavier Vignon echoes this spirit in 2 emblematic wines, a classic Cairanne, and a more personal version, the Arcane La Tempérance wine.
These Côtes du Rhône Villages - recognized as "crus" in 2016 - are located in a single commune with 877 ha of vineyards, and in this hot, dry climate, they offer a complete and sincere interpretation of the southern grape varieties - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre - with Cinsault and Carignan for the red wines, Clairette (minimum 30%), Grenache Blanc (minimum 20%) and Roussanne (minimum 20%) for the white wines, with a few other grape varieties such as bourboulenc, viognier, marsanne, and picpoul.
But the geological substratum sets Cairanne apart from its peers: the Aygues terraces in the west of the appellation are made of pebbles, clay, and delicate sands. These sands enhance the wines' soft tannins, giving them freshness and a light touch. On the northern slopes, known as the "Montagne du Ventabren," limestone gravel alternates with marl, giving the wines' aromas of black fruits and spices complexity and freshness. Finally, the garrigues to the south of the village, made up of stony alluvial deposits on a sunny, well-ventilated plateau, add sunshine and volume to the wines with spicy, ripe fruit aromas.
In the "Terroirs d'exception" range, the 2016 Cairanne is made from very old vines in the appellation and offers beautiful aromas of lavender, garrigue, pepper, and flowers. It's a rich, fresh wine, a perfect representative of the cru, and is ideal for drinking today with a cep risotto or a chili con carne.
The Arcane La Tempérance Cairanne is a superb, non-vintage red wine driven by Grenache grapes. Several vintages are summoned here to forge a beautifully balanced wine, at once rich, spicy, and elegant, with supple tannins and intense flavors of black fruit. A full-bodied, incredibly charming, and perfectly mature wine, both generous and fragrant, with an extraordinarily long finish that invites you to come back for more! The fruit of innovative winemaking methods combining glass aging (Wine Globe) and immersive winemaking (Vinarium®), this organic wine is a vibrant discovery! Pair it with a beef cheek, a pizza with chorizo or Parma ham, or polenta with Saint-Nectaire cheese.