Additional Info

Site: Les Côtes is located mid-slope on the southern portion of the Cornas appellation, is extremely steep, and faces east. The elevation is approximately 290 meters. The parcel is terraced and surrounded by a pine tree forest.

Geology: Les Côtes is planted on biotite-rich granite with pegmatitic (very large) feldspar crystal lathes that measure up to 10 cm in diameter! The granite has been metamorphosed so that the thin, platy biotite minerals are aligned in a schistose fabric.

Soils: The soil is shallow (0-60 cm), sandy, tan to light brown in color, and very rocky, consisting of up to 50% angular gravels and cobbles—all of which are pieces of decomposed granite. The subsoil consists of 50+ cm of granitic saprolite before the solid granitic bedrock. The soil is poor and does not easily retain water.

Parcel: Jean-Baptiste purchases the grapes from a gentleman who tends the vines behind his house as a hobby. He is meticulous and tends to his vines as if they were a garden. He is also passionate about biodiversity, especially native plants. This is a special location with a diversity of trees, animals, and beehives, in complete harmony with its environment.

We are greatly indebted to Brenna Quigley for the geology and physical descriptions.