Chateau des Tourettes (Maine et Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen)
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After great success in the Macon early on, Jean-Marie & Maine Guffens headed to an even lesser-known, more Southern region: the Luberon. More known for plush whites and beefy reds, Jean-Marie found the Chateau des Tourettes atop the highest point of the region, where it possessed its own microclimate (not to mention a limestone-rich slope), and re-planted the vineyards to his ideal. Today his daughter Marie runs the Chateau along with Jean-Marie's Burgundian winemaker Julien, and their range of wines extends from Chardonnay to Grenache to Cabernet Sauvignon, all incredibly unique and delicious versions of each.
In the Luberon there is great excitement over Jean-Marie's wines, and we certainly can't get enough! At 420m altitude, Jean-Marie's vineyards at the Chateau des Tourettes have a cooler air to them, and plenty of energy. Among the 15 hectares of vines you'll find Chardonnay, Marsanne, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, expertly blended into wines that are both drinkable and age-worthy.
In the spirit of Jean-Marie's effervescent personality and press magic, the wines change regularly given a vintage's unique character. At times, a Blanc de Noirs will be made of Grenache, and the Rouge d'Une Nuit is often times almost rosé in hue despite having the depth and complexity of a Southern Rhone red.
The whites and reds are pressed carefully, usually only using the first pressing for the top "Tinus" line - an homage to his Grandfather's name - and resulting in wines of great elegance far outpacing any neighbor. Fermentation will occur in concrete or neutral oak, with only a tiny amount of new barrels in riper vintages for the Chardonnays.
