DIVE INTO RAPATEL
CLEAN WINES
In Catalan, Rapatel means "Hot sun", in connection with the vineyard located to the southeast of Nîmes, and it was the former farm of the neighboring Catalan monastery. Gérard Eyraud, after a brief career as a Camargue bullfighter ( no bull killing), chooses to take over after his grandfather the family estate of 29 ha of vines.
COLORFUL CULTURE
This sacred figure peasant gypsy style winemaker practices a natural culture but since he does not like paperwork, so he has no certification and doesn’t claim to be a « natural » winemaker. He chooses to have no appellation either, his wines are in « Vin de France ». Why so, well he was fed up with the administration and regulation from Languedoc and the Rhône valley, and anyway he's in Camargue and he makes Mas Rapatel and that’s all mater for him. But what is the Rapatel style?
ANCIENT FARMING
With a keen eye for optimal maturity, he works his guts out in the vineyard, looking after the biodiversity of dragonflies, ladybirds, and butterflies, he practices grassing for any organic contribution. For the treatment he uses cheese whey against powdery mildew, sulfur and copper are only used when it’s needed. Tillage of this typical terroir made of gres soil, with round pebbles, and clay complete this attention to the vines.
CLEAN MANIAC
But also in his cellar clean as a whistle with daily pumping over on each vat to aerate the juices slowly, and does long aging to accustom them to the air. And this is extremely important because Gérard adds absolutely nothing to his wines, he only guides and accompanies them.
His wines are in his image, mature, concentrated, and generous, with a perfect balance and they won’t leave you indifferent.
RAPATEL WINE LIST
VIN DE PAYS DU GARD RED
A light blend of all the red grapes (Grenache, syrah, carignan, mourvèdre, cinsault, merlot & cabernet sauvignon ) with a real taste of smoky thyme & rosemary
VIN DE PAYS DU GAR WHITE
The easy going white blend of the vineyard with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne. A solid taste of garrigue
FACILE GRENACHE RED
Literally translatable by “Easy Grenache. It’s a highly drinkable wine with 100% Grenache, young vines of 25 years old
PETIT JOURNAL RED
Second Press of all the red grapes varieties, including Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon. A very concentrated the best for barbecue
PETITE SIGNATURE RED
Blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah sensuality and delicacy of this concentrated red wine, very ripe, but not very tannic.
PETITE SIGNATURE WHITE
Blend of Grenache Blanc & Marsanne. Pure class, subtle bitterness with peach, honey, and truffle
PETITE SIGNATURE ROSÉ
Blend of Grenache & Carignan for a food eating rosé
CUVEE CARAQUE RED
Blend of Syrah 2008 & 2009. Very fine, smooth and very long, with expressive fruit, integrated tannins, old notes dominate in a fresh amazing way!
CUVEE 43 WHITE
Blend of Grenache 85% from 2016 vintage and Muscat 15% from 2018. With a wild identity: bitter almond, anise, very vegetal yet sweet and ripe. A surprising Southern wine promising superb gastronomic pairings.
GRANDE SIGNATURE WHITE
Blend of Bourboulenc, Maccabeu, and Chasan. Oxidation is always under control, it's round, it's long, a pure wonder.
GRANDE SIGNATURE RED
50/50 Grenache and Syrah from vines planted in the 1950s. it is balanced, complex and it tastes the south of France in a very refined way. It's really big, very big.
CLOS CYRIL RED
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from vines planted in the 1950s. The vineyard burned in 2018. Complex, long and intense it is a future unicorn
REBUS SYRAH RED
Made from 60-year-old Syrah vines. Deep violet, shy at first, opens with umami, cherry, intense.
REBUS CARIGNAN RED
Made from 55-year-old Carignan vines. Fresh, vibrant, with garrigue, ripe red fruit, spicy
REBUS GRENACHE RED
Made from 70-year-old Grenache vines. Gracefull, with evolving flavours, garrigue, spicy, and full dedication to pleasure .
BOHEMIENNE RED
Soleiraof 5 vintages from 2011-2015 of Grenache. A Unique & bluffing cuvée, intense violet, pine, citrus, caramel, and red fruit.
GINIE PET NAT
Made from 100% Clairette, a tribute to the South of Nîmes appellations, this ancient grape variety is rustic, drought-resistant, and well-suited to Mediterranean climates. It produces a fresh, saline, and fleshy sparkling wine with aromas of exotic fruits, mirabelleplums, toasted almonds, and subtle floral and linden notes. With a slight bitterness and a balanced finish, the wine is aged for 3 years to achieve a finer bubble, defying the trend of quick, minimally aged natural sparklings.
RAPATELISSIME SWEET RED
vintage of old Carignan which Gérard was not happy so he decided to fortify it.
It gives a Banyuls/port-style with 16-17% alcohol (though labeled at 15% to avoid fortified wine taxes) it’s perfectfor the sweet tooth, justsipping indoors while keeping warm.
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