AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Massif d'Uchaux
This densely forested hill, due north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, has long been of interest to scientists thanks to its diversity of plants, insects and animals. Now it’s of interest to wine lovers too. It’s close to the Rhône River, but once within its wooded confines you wouldn’t know – it feels like another world.
Massif d’Uchaux has been known for two thousand years as a magical site for growing grapes, but until recently vineyards have remained the size of a postage stamp; breaking up the sandstone and limestone soils is back-breaking work. But once they take hold, vines can delve deeply into the ancient bedrock itself. It takes conviction to be a winemaker here.
The gnarled vines have to struggle to produce a crop in these poor soils, and yields are tiny. But the resulting red wines are unlike anything else in the region. They have aromas of red berries like wild strawberries and raspberries, inlaid with pink peppercorn and nutmeg spice. A beam of acidity shines through them, making for a bright style of wine that can happily develop and last for years in the bottle. Massif d’Uchaux is a hidden corner of the Rhône that makes enchanting wines.
Informations
Climate: Mediterranean
Soils: Limestone / Sandy / Clay
Altitude: Between 100 to 280 meters
Website appellation : https://www.massifduchaux.com/
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 189 HA
Total production in 2023: 5 996 HL
Average annual yeld: 32 HL/HA
Year of recognition within the AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages: 2005
Communes : Lagarde-Paréol, Mondragon, Piolenc, Sérignan-du-Comtat and Uchaux
Grape varieties
Main grape varieties
- Grenache noir,
- Mourvèdre,
- Syrah
Secondary grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Brun argenté (locally known as Camarèse or Vaccarèse),
- Carignan,
- Carignan blanc,
- Cinsault,
- Clairette,
- Clairette rose,
- Counoise,
- Floréal,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache gris,
- Marsanne,
- Muscardin,
- Piquepoul blanc,
- Piquepoul noir,
- Rolle (or Vermentino),
- Roussanne,
- Terret noir,
- Ugni blanc,
- Vidoc,
- Viognier
To know
History
The history of viticulture in the Massif d’Uchaux area dates back to Roman times, when the Via Agrippa stretched all the way from Lyon to Arles.
Historical sources confirm that sales of wine were already permitted in the commune of Mondragon in 1290, while taxation on wine first appeared in the 15th century - proof that even then, wine was an important commodity.
Part of the Massif d’Uchaux wine-growing area was awarded Côtes du Rhône appellation status in 1937; in 1983, this was upgraded to Côtes du Rhône Villages, and in 2005 was extended to include the whole Massif d’Uchaux area.
Climate
The climate is largely Mediterranean. Vines are grown on heavily wooded slopes at altitudes ranging from 100 to 280 metres.
Soils
The soils of the Massif d’Uchaux were formed in the Upper Cretaceous, in the late Secondary.
They consist primarily of pebble-rich limestone. Silico-calcareous sandstone gives the appellation wines their distinctive character. The vineyards are planted on hillsides, largely south-facing, with excellent sun exposure; the stony ground stores heat, promoting vine growth and ripening. Water supply is well-balanced, developing good flavour in the grapes. Biodiversity is an important issue for the appellation’s winegrowers, reconciling winegrowing with safeguarding the region’s natural fauna and flora, and plays an important part in shaping the unique character of this terroir.
Geography
The appellation spans the communes of Lagarde-Paréol, Mondragon, Piolenc, Sérignan-du-Comtat and Uchaux, in the Vaucluse.
Varieties and flavours
The Côtes du Rhône Villages Massif d’Uchaux applies only to red wines. They are made from Grenache noir, blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre (these 3 varieties must represent at minimum 66% of the blend), and offer a rich complex range of flavours with a subtle mineral edge, supported by a stylish, elegant tannic structure.
Made by growers dedicated to expressing the quintessence of their terroir, these wines are outstandingly fresh on the palate, but also full of character, giving them excellent ageing potential.
Associated appellations
