Why it matters
The producer
The concrete vats at Domaine du Séminaire belong to a family estate in Valréas, where Hervé and Mathilde Pouizin farm red and white Rhône varieties. Hervé represents the fourth generation of his family to farm these slopes. The domaine makes wine from its own vineyard fruit and does not buy grapes.
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan form the red foundation, joined by Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette and Grenache Blanc among the white varieties. The wines come from a single family property, with farming and cellar work kept under the Pouizins' control.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
At Route de Saint Pierre in Valréas, the vineyards lie in the colder foothills of the Alps, close to Grenache's northern ripening limit. Strong Mistral winds sweep the slopes. A cooler position lengthens Grenache's ripening, while moving air helps keep the canopy dry.
Valréas appears in the Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas appellation, so the village name sits directly on the bottle. The local address is also a climatic marker, with the wines coming from a northern Rhône setting where acidity remains part of the profile.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The property covers approximately 100 hectares, with 60 hectares of vines surrounded by woods and lavender. The vineyard includes the Rhône grape varieties grown across the estate, with Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan among the red plantings.
The winery was built in 1938 and is principally equipped with temperature regulated concrete vats. The Pouizins ferment with native yeasts, add minimal inputs, use no oak, bottle early and apply very light filtration. Concrete provides temperature control without adding oak flavour.
Wines to know
The range in view
The red range includes the Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas, Les Saffres and the standard Côtes du Rhône Rouge. Valréas is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It is a village wine built from a Grenache led blend.
Les Saffres is a parcel selection red from safres, composed equally of Grenache and Syrah. The standard Côtes du Rhône Rouge uses 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Carignan, placing Carignan in the blend where Valréas uses Mourvèdre.
A useful way in
A bottle to begin with
Open Les Saffres. It is a parcel selection red from safres, made from Grenache and Syrah. The wine shows blackberry and blackcurrant aromas, followed by a velvety palate, melted tannins and persistent fruit.