News » Alpilles
-
Renegade of Provence: 2015 Domaine de Trévallon
Eloi Dürrbach believed Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon made a compelling duo in a very particular pocket of Provence. Through the decades he's proved this slice in Les Alpilles, The Little Alps, can produce some of the very most celebrated wines in France.
Today, I'm happy to revisit the most anticipated release from Provence, The 2015 Domaine de Trévallon Rouge. Included are back-vintage gems stretching to 1988.
Domaine de Trévallon set out from inception in 1973 to tell the story of place despite rigorous opposition. 44 years later Eloi Dürrbach's vision of a Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend from his family's estate has won the hearts of collectors across the globe. Burgundy, Rhone, Bordeaux, and Loire have taken the lion’s share of my most significant experiences drinking French reds over the years, but the consistency and heights that Trévallon achieves each vintage is unsurpassed. These are Grand Crulevel wines in all but name, with pricing that’s a welcomed reminder of its humble origins.
Eloi Dürrbach planted these two varieties in the remote village of Saint-Etienne-du-Grès, a limestone goldmine on the north side of Alpilles mountains. Before phylloxera ravaged vineyards throughout France in the late 19th century Cabernet Sauvignon had been widely planted here. The appellation system set rules in the 1930's to establish which varieties could be labeled under particular zones, and Cabernet Sauvignon was given the boot. Dürbach understood his unique terroir offered the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend potential for greatness, so he chose to label his wines as France’s lowly Vin de Pays category.
Driving north into the hills of Provence from Bandol on one sweltering July afternoon I began to wonder just how Cabernet Sauvignon could strive here. As I climbed the Alpilles with the Mediterranean shrinking in my rear-view, the road began to narrow and the incline slowly steepened. Coming down onto the northern side temperatures quickly dropped and I immediately felt ushered into this new land, Baux de Provence. The garrigue shrubbery of the south was quickly replaced by the picturesque roadway (below) leading to Trévallon.
The Trévallon estate covers 17 hectares of almond and olive trees and vines, of which nearly all are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
The whole cluster-fermented reds age in large, old foudre, a critical element in giving this wine its tremendous clarity and brightness. While the gravel of Bordeaux is home to the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon, and the granite northern Rhone to the greatest Syrah, Dürbach knows here on limestone the sum of the parts achieves something far greater than each posses on their own.
These are magnificent wines that call to mind the dark graphite and tobacco-inflected wines of Pauillac, the black olive and violet of Côte Rôtie. And a seductive quality that reminds me each time of the treasure trove of older Burgundy that lined Eloi's personal cellar.To give context to the aging curve of these wines, a bottle of 1988 opened in September was incredibly fresh and continued to develop in the glass. It single-handedly made the case for the elegance and cellar potential that Provence is capable of.
Recent Articles
-
Renegade of Provence: 2015 Domaine de Trévallon November 03, 2018
Tags
- 1.5
- 1.5l
- 12
- 1954
- 1959
- 1961
- 1964
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1973
- 19731978
- 1974
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980's
- 1983
- 1985
- 1986
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1990's
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 1er
- 1er cru
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 36
- 3L
- 5 ano
- 6 ano
- 6 pack
- 750
- 890
- 904
- a grana
- a.j. adam
- abrossar
- accomasso
- Aglianico
- al
- alain
- albacete
- albahra
- albarin
- Albarino
- albe
- Albillo
- aldo conterno
- Alex Foillard
- alfonso torrente
- Alfredo
- alicante
- alicante bouchet
- Aligote
- Allemand
- almonds
- Alpilles
- Alsace
- alte
- alter holle
- Alto Piemonte
- alzinger
- Amarone
- Amity
- amphore
- Anjou
- anne boisson
- antle vineyard
- Antonio galloni
- antoniolo
- arbois
- Arbois-Pupillin
- arboreus
- argile
- Arinto
- Arnaud Ente
- arnot roberts
- Arnot-roberts
- asili
- atalier
- atoine foucault
- Aubert de Villaine
- auction
- Auguste Clape
- Auslese
- Australia
- austria
- austrian
- aux combottes
- Aux Malconsorts
- auxey duresses
- Auxey-Duresses
- avize
- avni
- ayler
- baby margaux
- back vintage
- Baden
- Baga
- bairrada
- balnc
- balthazar
- bandol
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- barbera d'alba
- Barolo
- Barossa Valley
- Barraida
- barrigards
- bartelemy
- bassenon
- Basso
- bastardo
- batard montrachet
- Bates Ranch
- BB
- bea
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais-Villages
- Beaune
- beauroy
- beaux
- Beaux Bruns
- Beer
- beerenauslese
- Benanti
- benchmark
- benedict
- benje
- benje tinto
- bentrock
- Bereche
- bernard
- Bianco
- bien nacido
- bienvenues
- bienvenues batard
- Bierzo
- bilbro
- bildstock
- biodynamic
- biondi
- Black Label
- blanc
- blanc de blancs
- blanco
- blau
- blonde
- Blot
- blue fruit
- Bockenauer
- boisson
- Bollinger
- bonnes mares
- Bordeaux
- boudignon
- boudots
- boulay
- bourg
- Bourgogne
- bourgogne blanc
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Bourgueil
- bouschet
- Branco
- bressandes
- bretonniere
- Breze
- brovia
- BruEmm
- brunate
- brunate-Le coste
- brune
- Brunella di Montalcino
- Brunello di Montalcino
- brut
- brut nature
- bruyeres
- Buddha's Dharma
- bugundy
- bunker hill
- burguet
- burgundian
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- cabernet sauvingon
- california
- camino
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- canneyt
- cannubi
- cannubi (san lorenzo)
- Cappellano
- cappuccio
- Carema
- Carignan
- carinyena
- carmenere
- caroline morey
- Carricante
- Cascina
- cascina franca
- Cascina Francia
- Cassis
- castell
- cava
- Caves San Joao
- celler
- ceps centenaires
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- cerbaiona
- cerrete
- certified
- cevins
- Chablis
- chache
- Chaillot
- chalk
- chambertin
- Chambeyron
- chambolle
- Chambolle Musigny
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champ Gain
- Champagne
- champange
- champans
- champs gains
- chapelle des bois
- Chardonnay
- chardoonay
- Charlemagne
- charlie trotter
- charlopin
- Charmes
- charpentrie
- charvin
- Chassagne Montrachet
- Chateau
- Chateau Thivin
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavaroche
- Chave
- Chavignol
- Chenas
- chenes
- chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Cherbaudes
- chevalier
- chevalier montrachet
- chevalieres
- chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- chinato
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christiane
- Cinque
- cinsault
- Ciro Picariello
- citrine
- Clair-Dau
- Clairette
- Clape
- Classique
- clos
- Clos David
- clos de guichaux
- Clos de la Grand Coeur
- clos de la grand cour
- clos de la marchale
- Clos de la ROche
- Clos de la Roilette
- Clos de la Rue
- clos des aigrots
- clos des chenes
- Clos des Ducs
- Clos des Mouches
- clos du bourg
- Clos du Chapitre
- clos du chateau des ducs
- clos du roy
- Clos du Verseuil
- CLos Prieur
- clos rougeard
- Clos Saint-Joseph
- clos st. jacques
- Clos Vougeot
- Club de Cosechadores
- clusel roch
- co
- Coastal
- Coche
- Coche-Dry
- Colin
- collier
- Collines Rhodaniennes
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Combe Aux Moines
- combottes
- complantee
- Comte de Vogue
- Comtes Lafon
- conterno
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Corbieres
- Corison
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- cornu
- Corse
- Corsica
- Cortese
- Corton
- corton-bressandes
- coste
- Cotat
- cote
- Cote Brune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- Coteaux Bassenon
- coteaux champenois
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes de Provence
- Cotes du Rhone
- Cotes du vivarais
- Coulee de serrant
- county
- CR
- Cras
- Crinquand
- crozes
- Crozes-Hermitage
- cru
- cry
- CS
- cuvee
- cuvee alexandrine
- cuvee reserve
- Cuvee Syrah
- Cuvee Tradition
- cuvee vigne alte
- d'alba
- d'angerville
- Dagueneau
- dard
- dd
- de
- De Montille
- de valtuille
- del
- dervieux
- dessus
- dexter
- Di Co
- Di Costanzo
- Dogliani
- Dolcetto
- Dolomites
- domaine
- Domaine Chave
- Domaine de la Cadette
- Domaine de la Cote
- Domaine de la Cras
- domaine de la romanee conti
- Domaine du Bagnol
- domestic
- dominik Huber
- dominique
- dompbrobst
- double magnum
- DRC
- dry
- duc des nauves
- Dujac
- Durbach
- dutraive
- east block
- Echezeaux
- edmond
- Egon Muller
- Egon Müller Scharzhofberger
- Eichberg
- El Marciano
- el rapolao
- electric
- eleven madison park
- emidio
- emilien
- En Champans
- En Combe Roy
- en coteaux
- en reugne
- encinas
- enfield
- enfield wine co
- Eola
- eric
- estate
- Etna
- Evening Land
- experience
- extra brut
- Falanghina
- Farella Vineyard
- fass 12
- fass 7
- faury
- faviken
- fellom ranch
- Felseneck
- figari
- Fiorina
- Fixin
- Fleurie
- folatieres
- Fontanasanta
- food tread
- for ross-seaview
- Foradori
- forest
- forets
- forjas del salnes
- fossati
- foti
- fourrier
- fox hill
- France
- francesco
- Francia
- franco fiorina
- Francomar
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- frederic
- Freisa
- french laundy
- fresh
- freu
- fritz haag
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Frohlich
- Fronholz
- Frühlingsplätzchen
- fruity
- Fuoripista
- G.B. Burlotto
- Gamay
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Gaudry
- Gavi
- Genevieres
- Genevrieres
- gentaz
- gerard
- Germain
- German
- Germany
- gevrey
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- geyserville
- GG
- ghemme
- Ghislaine Barthod
- giacomo
- Gigondas
- Gilles
- ginger
- giulia
- giuseppe
- gnemiz
- godello
- godfather
- gold standard
- Goldkapsel
- goliardo
- gonon
- Gouges
- Goulots
- Gour de Chaule
- Goutorbe
- graacher
- graillot
- Gramenon
- gran reserva
- Granato
- granbussia
- grance
- grand
- grand chaillot
- Grand Colline
- Grand Cru
- Grands Charrons
- Grands-Echezeaux
- graviers
- Greco di Tufo
- Grenache
- grenache blanc
- Grenache Gris
- greves
- griffe de marquis
- Grille midi
- griotte
- Griotte-Chambertin
- grolleau
- Grosjean
- grosser ring
- Grotte Alte
- gruenchers
- gruner veltliner
- gruyaches
- guiberteau
- hajo
- halbtrocken
- Halenberg
- halgans
- happy canyon
- Haro
- haut
- haut medoc
- haute-cotes de beaune
- Hautes cote de nuits
- hayne vineyard
- haynes
- haynes chardonnay
- hectare
- henri jayer
- Henri Roch
- hermitage
- Hermitage Blanc
- Hermtage
- heron lake
- Herve
- Hills
- hillsides
- himmelreich
- Hirotake ooka
- hommage
- hope well
- Hubacker
- hubert
- huet
- I Vigneri
- IGP
- IGT
- indiana jones
- iron fist
- italian
- Italy
- jaboulet
- Jacky
- jacques
- Jacquesson
- jamet
- jasmin
- jean luc
- jean michel stephan
- jean-marie
- Jean-Michel
- jeroboam
- jewel
- jj prum
- joao
- joguet
- john lockwood
- Joly
- Joseph Drouhin
- Juge
- julian haart
- Jura
- kabinett
- Kallstadter
- Karthäuserhof
- keller
- king
- kings vineyard
- kirschenmann
- Klaus Peter Keller
- koehler
- koehler-ruprecht
- Kronos Vineyard
- kupp
- kye
- l'esprit
- l'etonnat monsieur victor
- l;ultime
- La Baronne
- La Bidode
- La Charme Aux Pretes
- la charmes aux pretres
- La Chatelaine
- la chavaroche
- la claudrina
- la combe
- la del vivo
- la fresnaye
- la Geynale
- La Ghibellina
- La guiraude
- la landonne
- la madonne
- La Rioja Alta
- la ripaille
- la taille aux loups
- La Tournebride
- la vitoriana
- lace
- lafarge
- langhe
- Languedoc
- lanson
- Late Release
- Latour
- Lavaux Saint Jacques
- le chapitre
- le clos
- le coste
- le cupole
- le haut-lieu
- le macchiole
- le mesnil
- le mont
- Le Pied de la Rue
- le poutet
- le pur
- Le trame
- le trezin
- Ledru
- Leflaive
- leroy
- Les Amoureuses
- les arboises
- Les Arvelets
- Les Barrigards
- les baudes
- les beaux regards
- Les Bons Batons
- les caillerets
- Les Cazetiers
- les chaffots
- les champs canet
- les champs perdrix
- Les Chapaudaises
- les chaumees
- les chevalieres
- Les Crais
- les cran
- Les Cras
- Les Fuees
- les grandes places
- les grands charrons
- Les Grands Epenots
- les longeroies
- Les macherelles
- les manyes
- Les Minots
- Les MItans
- les monts fournois
- les motelles
- les moulins
- Les Pallieres
- Les Petits Monts
- Les petits Vougeots
- les peyrouses
- Les Pezerolles
- Les Referts
- les rieux
- Les Rougeots
- Les Rugiens
- Les Rugiens-Bas
- Les Sentiers
- Les Suchots
- Les Taillepieds
- Les Tillets
- les tosses
- Les Veroilles
- Lessona
- Levet
- library
- Lieu Dit en Papolet
- lieu-dit
- lignier
- Limestone
- limit
- lisbon
- listan blanco
- listan prieto
- little hill
- little hillwest block
- loibner
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Lopez de Heredia
- Lousas
- Lovamor
- low sulphur
- lust
- lychee
- lytton springs
- Macabeau
- Macon
- Maestro
- magic
- Magma
- Magnon
- magnum
- magnum opus
- mahle
- mailloche
- Mainin
- malbec
- Malvasia
- Manzoni Bianco
- Marc Roy
- margalagua
- Margaux
- marl
- marquis
- marsannay
- marsanne
- marsanne rousanne
- martinenga
- Mascarello
- Maxime
- Mazis-Chambertin
- McLaren Vale
- mead ranch
- Mediterranean
- medoc
- Meix Chavaux
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Mencia
- mendocino
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Mersault
- mes favorites
- messorio
- Meursault
- michel lafarge
- migan
- mimis mind
- mind bending
- mineral
- mix pack
- moccagatta
- Moillard
- Mondeuse Blanche
- monfortino
- Mongeard
- monopole
- montbenault
- Monte bello
- montee de tonnere
- Montee de Tonnerre
- montefico
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- montmains
- montrachet
- monttrachet
- monvigliero
- morey
- morey saint denis
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- mosel saar ruwer
- moulin de tricot
- Moulin-a-Vent
- mount carmel
- mount eden
- mountains
- mourvedre
- Muenchberg
- Mugneret
- mugnier
- Muller Thurgau
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- musigny
- musingy
- N block
- N-Block
- Nahe
- nanclares
- napa
- Napa Valley
- narvaux
- native yeast
- natur
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero d'Avola
- Nero di Lupo
- niellucciu
- no additives
- non-vintage
- north coast
- Northen Rhone
- northern California
- Northern Rhone
- Nosiola
- nouvelle R
- Nuits
- nuits saint george
- nuits saint georges
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- NV
- oak
- oberberg
- Occhipinti
- off dry
- oger
- old vine
- Oregon
- organic
- osso san grato
- Ostertag
- oubilee
- ouilee
- outis
- outlier
- Overnoy
- oyster
- PA
- palo blanco
- paolo
- paolo bea
- paraje mina
- parcela novo
- parcela seoane
- Pardas
- Parr
- paso robles
- patchwork
- Patrick Baudouin
- pauillac
- pax
- pearl
- pelican
- Penedes
- pepe
- pergole torte
- pernand vergelesses
- perre
- Perrieres
- persan
- peter lauer
- peter martin ray
- petillant
- petit verdot
- Petite Arvine
- petite syrah
- Pezerolles
- Pfalz
- Pfersigberg
- pian del ciampolo
- pichon
- pie
- Pie franco
- pie rupestris
- Piedmont
- piedmontese
- pierre
- pierre gonon
- pierre Yves Colin Morey
- Pietra Marina
- pigs stomach
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot GRis
- pinot meunier
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Plaisir
- Ploussard
- Poco do Lobo
- podere
- Podere le Boncie
- Podere S. Giuseppe
- Poignee de Raisins
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- porto
- Portugal
- poruzots
- poruzots-dessus
- Poulsard
- pre-phylloxera
- premier
- premier cru
- premier cry
- pretty horses
- priorat
- Produttori
- produttori del barbaresco
- Prousots
- Provence
- PT
- pucelles
- puffeney
- pugnane di castiglione
- puligny
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- pulingy montrachet
- puy
- PYCM
- QBA
- qualitatswein
- R
- rabaja
- Raj
- Rajat
- Ramonet
- raul perez
- ravera
- Rayas
- raymond
- red
- red blend
- reduction
- reflet d'Antan
- reiserva speciale
- remensis rose
- remi jobard
- Renaissance
- Rene Engel
- reserva
- reserve
- Reynard
- rheinberg
- rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- ribeira sacra
- ribo
- Ribolla Gialla
- Ridge
- ried
- Riesling
- right bank
- rinaldi
- Rioja
- riserva
- roasted slope
- Robert michel
- roberto santana