Provence, France
Domaine de la Réaltière
Located near the village of Rians, north of Mont Sainte-Victoire in Provence, Domaine de la
Réalitière is owned and operated by Pierre and Sylvia Michelland. It is a Demeter-certified
biodynamic estate planted with a range of black (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cabernet
Sauvignon) and white (Ugni Blanc, Clairette and Semillon) varieties on limestone, red and
pink clay.
It is a 13-hectare vineyard at 450 m surrounded by olive trees, pines and oaks. We are very happy with work with Pierre and Sylvia and expect more wines from this exceptional estate in the Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence.
Cante Gau Blanc
Cante Gau translates to ‘crowing of the rooster’ in the Provençal dialect. It is at the top of the range in the Domaine’s portfolio. The wine is crafted from Carignan Blanc (60%, from 95-year-old vines), Ugni Blanc (25%, from 105-year-old vines) and Semillon (15%, from 18-year-old-vines). The low-yielding vineyard (20 hl/ha) is south east facing on clay-limestone soils.
Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted and whole-bunch pressed with stems. Fermentation occurs in demi-muids, concrete and terracotta eggs. The wine is aged on fine lees for 8 months and bottled with only 1.5 mg/l of sulphur. Production of this wine is limited to 2,300 bottles.
