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Chateau Revelette

Chateau Revelette is run by Peter Fischer, a German who settled at this estate, not far from the village of Jouques, in 1985. A graduate of UC Davis, California's wine university, Fischer moved to Provence with the dream of owning his own vineyard. Following a year working with local oenologist Emmanuel Gaujal, he struck out on his own; after viewing dozens of properties, he settled on Chateau Revelette, which at the time had 12 hectares of vineyards and a small cellar.

With time Fischer has expanded his holdings to 25 hectares, cultivating the full gamut of Provençale varieties, red and white. Having started out with some Grenache now over 40 years of age, 30 year old Syrah vines, Grenache and Carignan, Fischer has also added Cabernet Sauvignon, a variety he favours; this is perhaps unsurprising considering he spent his formative years in California, where Cabernet is king. The whites include locals Ugni Blanc and Rolle, as well as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The mesoclimate is cool, thanks to the winds that roll down the Val de Durance and the nearby Mont Ste Victoire which holds back the warming air of the Mediterranean; in fact, this is one of the coolest places in Provence.

The wines are led by a Grand Blanc and a Grand Rouge; the Grand Blanc is 100% Chardonnay vin de pays, one-third oak-fermented, and left on the lees for seven months. The Grand Rouge is a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Cabernet, also oak-fermented and oak-aged for one year. Then there are the Chateau wines, again white - a blend of Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon and Rolle - as well as red and rosé cuvées. A relatively recent introduction is a late-harvest Chardonnay, Or Serie. All the wines are cared for in Fischer's revamped cellar, undergo egg white fining but no filtration. (28/2/05)

Contact details:
Address: 13490 Jouques
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 42 63 75 43
Fax: +33 (0) 4 42 67 62 04

Chateau Revelette - Tasting Notes

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2001

Chateau Revelette Le Grand Blanc de Revelette (VdP des Bouches du Rhône) 2001: A pale golden hue. Obvious barrel-ferment notes, with oaky, butterscotch aromas swamping a presence of crystalline fruit in the background. Full palate, some bitter oak notes, with sharp, peppery acidity. Good texture, and some grippy oak-derived tannins. Rather simple in style, with too much oak for my palate. 14/20 (February 2005) Label

1999

Chateau Revelette Or Serie 1999: A rich, golden-orange hue. Lovely nose of apricot and marmalade, with toasted nuts. Just a little hint of volatile acids too. Beautiful entry, very pure and focussed, yet voluptuous and balanced too. Initially very feminine, although it shows more grip on the finish, together with a mulled spice flavour alongside the apricot botrytis. Gentle acidity which gives that opulent feel. For drinking now and over the next few years. 18/20 (February 2005) Label