La Ferme Des Sept Lunes
WINEMAKER
Jean Delobre
VINEYARD
10 hectares, organic & biodynamic
COUNTRY, REGION, SUBREGION
We toasted the birth of the idea that became Under the Bonnet Wines with a bottle of Jean Delobre's formidable Ardeche Syrah VDF.
Years on, imagine how chuffed we are to be able to bring his wines to you.
Le Ferme des Sept Lunes is a 10-hectare farm perched in one of the highest areas of St Joseph. Visiting involves a tortuous 350m road-climb from the valley floor. The hair-pins are not for the faint-hearted.
The latest of three generations on the same farm, Jean converted to organic and biodynamic agriculture in 1997 and only uses sulphur in his wines when it's absolutely unavoidable. The vineyards in the upper part of St.Joseph have a south-eastern exposure, the altitude bringing freshness to the wines. The climate has been tending to Mediterranean in recent year, with wind coming from the north.
Each cuvée is site-specific; with Syrah, Roussane, Marsanne, Viognier and a bit of Gamay planted mostly on granite soils.
The wines all show great freshness and purity, the whites all have texture and tension, the reds with depth, aromatics and a fantastic juiciness.
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Wines
Roussane and Marsanne blend. Both grape varieties were aged separately.
A blend of a few Syrah parcels from the Peyraud plateau. No added sulfur.
Jean declassified the 2015 St Joseph BLanc as it was too oxidative for the appellation. They thought better to change the name so as to not mislead customers. Rich, textured with a nutty oxidative character.
Roussane and Marsanne blend. Both grape varieties were aged separately.
Syrah picked from the north side of the commune of Bogy, just outside the appellation, neighbouring the Glou parcel. Wonderfully aromatic, pure-fruited and supple this year.
Jean's freshest expression, no barrels here. A 50/50 blend, from plots on deeper loess soil. Unfined & unfiltered.
From a single plot of younger vines on the plateau next to Jean's house. Stone-fruit ripeness balanced with energetic acidity. Great vintage.
A 50/50 blend from plots on the slope, over granite. Jean was particularly pleased with the whites in 2018- he feels like he caught the harvest time correctly for balanced expressions.
Another of Jean's successful experiments, smokey and savoury with salinity and focus.
From a half-hectare parcel of Gamay just outside the appellation, does what you’d hope from the name on the tin. Bottle.
Some of the best value non AOC St Jo Syrah available. Aromatic and floral with supple texture and salinity. 2020 fleshier than the leaner 19.
Premier Quartier is from an cluster of east-facing parcels on the Peyraud plateau near Jean's house,
From vines on a south-facing plateau, among the warmest of the farm's holdings. Aromatic, juicy, long and soft.
One of Jaques plots, at the top of the hillside in the commune of Sarras. South-facing, on granite. Supple, dark-fruited and mineral.
The oldest vines, planted in 1974 from massal selection, close to the Premier Quartier parcel. Much shallower soils, and finer boned than Premier Quartier.
Hand harvested Roussane grapes. No added sulfur.