Domaine Trevallon: Guide and presentation of the estate

Today we'd like to introduce you to one of our partner domains: the Domaine Trevallon.

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History of the Trevallon estate :

Trevallon  is one of Provence's leading estates. It is located not far from Saint- Rémy-de-Provence on the northern slopes of the Alpilles and in the commune of Saint-Etienne-du-Grés. The presence of limestone on the estate shapes the soil, which is harsh and dry. The vineyard covers an area of 17 hectares. Extensive work has been carried out to include the vines in a landscape brimming with garrigue, holm oak, olive and almond trees. All this adds up to blasted rocks, intensely worked soils and rock chips associated with the soil. In 1973, Eloi gave life to the first vines. These vines cover an area of 15 ha of reds made from Cabernet-Sauvignon and Syrah, as well as 2 ha of whites composed mainly of Marsanne and Roussanne.

In 1950, Jacqueline and René Dürrbach were won over by the beauty of the Alpilles and decided to acquire Mas Chabert, followed by the Trevallon estate in 1960. The father was sure that this land would produce good wine in the future. Floriane and Eloi Dürrbach have been running the Trevallon estate for over 30 years now, with Éloi looking after the vines and cellar, and Floriane assisting him on the estate. They eventually passed on their passion for the land to their children Ostiane and Antoine.

The Cabernet-Sauvignon grape variety existed on the estate long before the Phylloxera crisis. Blended with Syrah, it produced excellent wines. These two grape varieties, combined with the limestone terroir, give Trevallon an exceptional style. Despite his lack of experience in oenology, Eloi just knew he wanted to make good wine; it was like a passion for him. Certain of his choice, and also of the history of the Baux vineyards, Eloi chose to downgrade to vin de pays rather than distort the personality of the wines. Art is very much present at Domaine Trevallon, as is the spirit of René Dürrbrach, Eloi's father, who died in 1999 at the age of 89. A painter and sculptor at heart, he was friends with many painters, including Albert Gleizes, a pioneer of cubism, Fernand Léger, Robert Delaunay and Pablo Picasso.

The estate's hidden valleys, garrigues and old olive groves are remnants of a farming tradition linked to one of the oldest fruits to have nourished mankind since time immemorial. Like the vines, the Olivers are planted without chemical fertilizers or synthetic products. In 2013, Eloi Dürrbach wanted to renovate the estate, so he entrusted this task to architect Jean Bosc.

The great vintages of Domaine Trevallon:

• Domaine de Trevallon Red :

It is also composed of 50 % of Cabernet-Sauvignon and 50 % of Syrah. The wine's ruby-red color with purple highlights is limpid and brilliant. This color confirms the wine's youthful appearance. The nose is intense and seductive, revealing notes of Morello cherries and fresh raspberries, with hints of cocoa and roasted hazelnuts. Spicy notes of Timut pepper and cinnamon are also present. Silky, delicate tannins are also present. The finish is balanced, suave and dynamic. Occasional notes of pepper and menthol are also present. It is produced on the northern Alpilles terroir, a very stony limestone and clay soil (Hauterivian and Barremian, secondary era, Lower Cretaceous, less than 130 million years old). Vinification is carried out without destemming, yeasting or sulfur. The wine is aged for 24 months in foudres and barrels, fined with fresh egg whites, and bottled without filtration. Alcohol content is 13 %. This wine can be drunk between 2018 and 2030. It goes well with Perdreau roasted with cranberries, a raspberry vinegar reduction and Jerusalem artichoke purée.

 

• Domaine de Trevallon Blanc : 

This cuvée is composed of 50 % of Cabernet Sauvignon and 50 % of Syrah. It has a unique, rich, complex and intense character. The wine is aged for up to two years in foudre. This method produces a wine that is dense, taut and refined. The color is golden yellow with green reflections, and the intense, elegant nose gives off notes of peach, mirabelle plum and broom, as well as mineral and iodine notes produced by the limestone soil. The palate is smooth and fresh. It's rare for a white wine from this estate to be so carefully crafted, both in its floral and stony aromas and in its long, elegant texture. The grape varieties are: 60% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne, 10% Chardonnay, 8% Grenache Blanc and 7% Clairette. It is grown on a terroir with very stony limestone and clay soils. The wine is aged varietal by varietal in barrels for 12 months, without racking, with settling, clay fining and light filtration before bottling. Alcohol content is 13.5 %. This is a wine that can be drunk between 2020 and 2030. It goes well with sea bream, sea urchins or simply grilled bass in olive oil.

 

We hope you've enjoyed this article, and look out for our other articles on our partner estates. You can also discover Trevallon's fine vintages on the website :

> Grands Vins du Domaine Trevallon in stock