Website: https://chateaupesquie.com/en/welcome/
The Chaudière family cultivate 100 hectares of vineyards in Ventoux. Located in the village of Mormoiron, in the heart of Ventoux, the current generation, Alexandre and Frédéric Chaudière, tend to these vineyards following biodynamic methods. This vineyard is one of the top and most significant domains in Ventoux.
I had the pleasure of tasting these wines with Frédéric who commented on the shift to biodynamic farming being a common trend among many in the appellation towards organics and beyond. ‘There is a burgeoning organic movement in the Ventoux,’ he says. ‘I would suggest nearly a third of the independent wineries are organic, and very soon it will be over half of them. 16% of the total area is organic, and this will soon be above 20%. At Pesquié the story is a bit longer. The first blocks we certified were in 2007, and we began to experiment with biodynamic methods in 2015. It wasn’t until 2018 that the farming practices of the estate were certified by Demeter. Biodynamic farming is much less common than organic farming in the Ventoux.’
Château Pesquié Cuvée Juliette Ventoux Blanc 2021
With 13% alcohol, 70% Clairette, and 30% Grenache Blanc on limestone soils, fermented in concrete egg and then aged in demimuids with thick (42 mm) staves. Offering a delicate, pure, and refined taste with a pleasant acid streak and a mineral undertone beneath the pear and lemon fruit. Accents of green apple. Such purity and precision, and it’s believed it will age in intriguing ways. 94/100
Château Pesquié Ventoux Rosé Quintessence 2022 – 70% Grenache noir, 20% Cinsault, and 10% Clairette yield a pink-to-orange shade. A sweet, textured, and intricate gastronomic rosé. Notes include sweet strawberries and gentle herbal hints. A salient blend of liveliness and depth, adorned with a hint of salty minerality. Remarkably engrossing. Rated at 93/100.
Château Pesquié Silicia Ventoux Rouge 2021 – Comprising 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault, with 15.5% alcohol content. The blend hails from sandy soils and is then preserved in large barrels comprising 70% concrete and 30% with a 600-liter capacity. Visual palette ranges from cherry red, while the taste hints at fresh strawberry and cherry with a hint of pepper and grainy tannins. The remarkable freshness belies the elevated alcohol content and rounds off with a fine, sweet fruity taste. Rated at 95/100.
Château Pesquié Artemia Ventoux Rouge 2014 – Originating from Pesquié’s most venerable single vineyard, this blend comes from a 3 ha limestone gravel plot located on a small plateau 400 m above sea level. The blend is dominated by 80% Syrah, with the balance made up of 20% Grenache. All grapes in the blend are destemmed. The nose reveals olive, spice, and meat notes, complemented by pepper with pleasing aging. Floral undertones and precision define the palate, featuring good acidity supplemented with olive, spice, and herbs. Perfect for immediate consumption. Rated at 95/100.
Previous notes:
Chateau Pesquié Quintessance Blanc 2020 Ventoux, France
13.5% alcohol. 80% Roussanne, 20% Clairette from limestone soils. 600 litre barrels and concrete eggs. There’s a beautiful texture with fresh subtleness and hints of pear and spice balanced out with white peach and citrus. It’s intensified just right and topped off with an interesting mineral edge. High quality. 93/100
Chateau Pesquié Cuvée Juliette Blanc 2020 Ventoux, France
13% alcohol. The blend is 70% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc. It’s crisp, multi-dimensional with a trace of honey, spice and dash of melon. It’s executed in an elegant fashion with attractive pear fruit and remarkable intensity, leading to a sharp finish. It has a considerable weight on the palate. 93/100
Château Pesquié Silica 2020 Ventoux, France
Noticeable extraction with solely cap wetting. It’s aged in 600 litre barrels (75%) and concrete egg (25%). The blend is 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault. It’s forgiving, delicate and truly sophisticated with a hint of spicy grip and the sweet flavors of red cherry and plum fruit. It’s highly expressive, with a tinge of liquorice in the fruit. Rounded and graceful. 94/100