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Château Des Tourettes

New “Baby Guffens” Releases from Luberon’s “Little Burgundy”
Château Des Tourettes

Jean-Marie Guffens is one of France’s most revered wine makers. Though best known for his brilliant wines from the Mâcon, the wines from his southern Estate should not be overlooked! Nor should remarkable his Barsacs, where Château Closiot has quickly become a regional benchmark (at very fair prices). But that’s a discussion for another day. Château des Tourettes is Guffens’ Domaine in the Luberon—a stretch of magnificent, hilly vineyards between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.

 

Here, Guffens is working alongside his eldest daughter, Marie, and together they make some brilliant wines.

 

There is innovation at every level, from the wine growing to the winemaking. But it is the quality and value that should most excite us here. In simple terms, these are wines that result from a Burgundian genius applying his philosophy to a terrific Provençal limestone terroir. After more than 25 years, Guffens is knocking these wines out of the park.

The Wines

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Marsanne 2024

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Marsanne 2024

Slowly stepping back from his work in Burgundy—where his wingman Julian Desplans is managing affairs—has allowed Guffens more time to focus on his Provençal Estate, which is also his family’s primary residence. Not only has Jean-Marie streamlined the range of wines, but quality and refinement are on the rise. Alongside great value, expect wines of textured generosity and southern soul, married to first rate Burgundian winemaking expertise. 

Grown on chalky soils at high altitude, the Marsanne opens with grapefruit, citrus blossoms, white pepper and tarragon with a streak of stony character. The medium-bodied palate gains energy from its juxtaposition of ripe, juicy fruit and bright, citrusy uplift. The wine is only released in top years for the variety. It finishes long and textural with a lovely chalky-mineral snap. 


Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Marsanne 2024
Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Rouge d'une Nuit 2024

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Rouge d'une Nuit 2024

This deliciously quirky red from Jean-Marie Guffens is a blend of Syrah and Cabernet left overnight on the marc (dry pressing) of old-vine Grenache to take on more colour, fruit and structure. The wine is then aged in concrete tank to preserve freshness. Named after its one-night stand with the Grenache skins, it’s a vividly fruited red, popping with notes of peppery spice and red berry fruit before a thirst-quenching, poppy-seed finish. A lovely bistro-style red.

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Rouge d'une Nuit 2024
Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Syrah 2024

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Syrah 2024

Slowly stepping back from his work in Burgundy—where his wingman Julian Desplans is managing affairs—has allowed Guffens more time to focus on his Provençal Estate, which is also his family’s primary residence. Not only has Jean-Marie streamlined the range of wines, but quality and refinement are on the rise. Alongside great value, expect wines of textured generosity and southern soul, married to first rate Burgundian winemaking expertise. Raised in concrete. fragrant aromas of red berries and cherries segue into a silky, vibrant palate with very fine tannins and a core of freshness without being too racy. It will make for wonderful drinking no matter the time of year. 

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Syrah 2024
Château Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Grand Blanc Plateau de l'Aigle 2024

Château Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Grand Blanc Plateau de l'Aigle 2024

This ‘Grand Cru’ Luberon white is drawn from a single plot of Chardonnay on Tourette’s l’Aigle terroir, a limestone plateau where the Chardonnay grapes stand out for their intensity and freshness. From here, Guffens crafts prestigious, age-worthy Chardonnays from the south and releases this bottling with age to prove it. Aware of the natural richness and density gifted by his terroir, Jean-Marie Guffens chose to vinify only the purest and naturally tense free-run juices. He favoured a short aging in barrels (25% new) for eight months, before subsequent aging in concrete vats on fine lees for a further ten months.

Château Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Grand Blanc Plateau de l'Aigle 2024
Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc Solera 1723 NV

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc Solera 1723 NV

Here we have another deliciously idiosyncratic wine from Jean-Marie Guffen’s Luberon estate. As the name suggests it’s a perpetual blend of successive vintages, in this case of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. Guffens’ selection of grapes is based on what he calls ‘raisins rôtis’ or roasted grapes; those grapes lying on the outside of the bunch and closest to the sun’s rays. The current bottling is based mainly on the 2022 and 2023 vintages, alongside a small proportion of the solera that contains every vintage going back to 2017. The name ‘1723’ release to both the youngest and oldest wines in the blend. 

The juice is stored in concrete tanks, on lees, so the wine stays fresh and keeps developing slowly over the years. So, the older material adds complexity and texture and the younger vintages brings freshness and minerality. What can we say – it just works brilliantly! The current release is both fleshy and juicy, enlivened delightful tangy, mouthwatering structure. Expect succulent flavours of pineapple, orange, Mirabelle plum jam and mouthwatering bitters plum kernel and fresh kumquat. It finishes fresh and bright with notes of Sichuan pepper and lemongrass; welcome to the wonderful world of Château des Tourettes.


Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc Solera 1723 NV
Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc de Noirs 2023

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc de Noirs 2023

A new label from Jean-Marie Guffen’s magical mystery tour. This Blanc de Noirs is a white made from old-vine Grenache Noir rooted in Guffens’ limestone-rich Luberon vineyard at 420 metres. The Grenache grapes are pressed immediately after harvest and separated from their skins before fermenting in concrete. Aged on lees in stainless steel, it’s a pulpy, succulent white with a delightful twist of red fruit, spice and lovely stone-fruit juiciness on the palette. A delicious table wine to pair with food, whatever's on the menu.

Château des Tourettes Vin de France Tinus Blanc de Noirs 2023

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