The 2009 Cotes du Ventoux L’Eclat (a blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette) was fermented in barrel and then moved to tank for six months on its lees. It is a zesty white offering lots of nectarine, orange blossom and lemon butter notes, crisp acids and a fresh, elegant mouthfeel. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. The leading reference point estate in the Cotes du Ventoux region, Domaine de Fondreche is run with extraordinary passion and impeccable attention to detail by Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy. This large estate of just under 100 acres is biodynamically farmed and all the red wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Additionally, the Cuvee Nature was produced without any SO2 .Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The white wines include the 2008 L’Eclat, a blend of Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. Crushed rocks, white peach, quince, and honeysuckle are restrained but evident in the moderately intense bouquet. In the mouth it displays excellent freshness and vibrancy with a nicely textured, dry, crisp finish. This medium-bodied wine is best drunk over the next 1-2 years. One of the consistently superb estates in the Cotes du Ventoux, Domaine de Fondreche offers very high quality and reasonable prices. The creation of Sebastian Vincenti and Manou Barthelemy, these wines are bursting with fruit and have loads of minerality and aromatics. They are beautiful efforts representing the best of what a young generation of French producers can do. The estate is just under 100 acres in size and is now 100% biodynamically farmed. As Sebastian Vincenti told me, 2008 was a very strong vintage for the whites but presented many challenges with the reds.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083