CDR Villages Plan de Dieu Galets Aphillantes 2021

CDR Villages Galets Plan de Dieu Aphillantes, biodynamic wine, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, traditional long maceration and vinification with natural yeasts in concrete tanks.  When you speak with Daniel and Helene Boule from Les Aphillantes, you realise that were actually pretty pioneering in their area of the southern Rhone.  They started on the journey to make natural wines about 25 years ago, long before anybody was talking about.  They realised that for the sake of the environment and the health of their children, this was the only way forward.  Roll the clock forward and their son is now helping to run the farm and is also fully committed to their biodynamic path.  It is tough as yields are very low and all the work is manual 47 hectare farm where they make about 130000 bottles a year across a dozen different cuvee.  The Plan de Dieu 2020 taken from name of the lieu dit where the vines are is perhaps the most striking of their Cotes du Rhone wines.  It is a stunning depth of fruit and concentration, lovely balance and a long smooth and satisfying finish.  This is outstanding Rhone wine and by today’s standards for the area, great value for money.

Not far from Gigondas in the Rhône valley, Domaine Les Aphillanthes is a 60 hectares wine estate currently run by Daniel Boulle and his wife Hélène, spread across three local towns including Cairanne.

Fourth generation winemakers, Daniel took over the estate in 1987 and started producing his own cuvee from grapes that until that time had been sold to the coopérative. In 2000 after treating his son's bad exzema with natural remedies, he decided to switch to Biodynamic principles. Roll the clock forward and they are now making outstanding natural Cotes du Rhone, both red and white and rose.