Domaine Marcel Richaud Cairanne Rouge 2023

Organic / Natural

Blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and equal parts Carignan and Counoise from low-yielding vines with an average age of 40-70 years old, planted on the hillsides above the village of Cairanne. The flagship wine of the domaine and the appellation, Richaud's Cairanne is intensely expressive with aromas of red fruits and dark chocolate, followed by a palate that is rich and deep with a vibrancy that makes it a go-to year-round...even in the warmth of summer.

Fifth generation winegrower Marcel Richaud founded the domaine in 1974 after deciding to be the first in his family to estate bottle rather than selling to the cooperative. This was a risk in the 1970s, but Marcel is no stranger to risk, an avid hang glider even now into his 70s!
Richaud was an early proponent of low intervention winemaking,  including lower sulfur additions, no fining or filtration, and most importantly, natural viticulture. In the 1990s, Richaud became a member of the Association des Vins Naturals and emerged as both one of the leaders of the natural wine movement and an influential advocate for the elevation of his home appellation of Cairanne.
The combination of high elevation parcels (with a uniquely high percentage of Mourvèdre plantings and bits of Counoise), fermentations in cement, and long élévage in neutral oak casks, Marcel is joined by his children Claire and Thomas in producing honest, vibrant, and extraordinarily drinkable wines from a lovely sector of the Rhône Valley.