Domaine des Cedres Cotes-du-Rhone 2010

Domaine des Cedres is located in a small commune in France's Southern Rhone Valley. Often called a "Blessed Region," the Rhone Valley is in a climate that is ideal for grape growing. The vineyard features several plots on hillsides which have a stony, clayey and calcareous soil which are friendly to vines and little else. The stones absorb the hot summer sun and then reflect warmth onto the vines at night. The climate is mediterranean, although the Mistral, a cold northerly wind that can endure for days on end, is a feature of the Southern Rhone. The dry Mistral winds, however, minimize vine disease and dry out the vineyard if hit with summer rains.

Domaine des Cedres winemaker, Dominique Pons, is a true pioneer of organic viticulture. He has been into organic winemaking for at least 20 years, and was one of the first in the Cotes-du-Rhone AOC to go organic. In addition, he's been studying and applying the principles of Biodynamic farming at Domaine des Cedres for several years, and is involved with the Mouvement de Culture Biodynamique. Like Dominique, the wines of Domaine des Cedres are open and generous.