Joncier
Lirac, Rhone Valley
- Certified Organic and Demeter Biodynamic certified
- Grows mostly Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and small amounts of Roussane, Marsanne, and Bourboulenc
- Most vines planted in 1969 and 1994
Established by Pierre Roussel in 1964 and passed to his daughter Marine in 1989, Domaine du Joncier is a Rhone wine estate in Lirac producing artful wines of balance and purity. Born in Algeria, Marine did everything not to become a winegrower. “My father pushed me so hard that I went to look elsewhere.” After a life as a young artist in the city, Marine felt drawn back to her family’s small farm in the countryside and has spent every day since in pursuit of fresh, elegant wines that speak of her homeland’s terroir. Without anyone’s help, at least initially, she studied, in her own way at her own speed. “I didn’t dare approach the winegrowers, I was embarrassed, I was afraid to disturb them.”
The soils of Joncier share the same characteristic Galets stones of neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape, helping to maintain vine temperatures throughout the 32 ha of vineyards. Constant gusts from the mistral temper intense sun exposure and ward off the threat of mildew. Certified Organic in 2000 and Demeter Biodynamic Certified in 2011, Marine’s land is full of biodiversity. The vineyards are planted mostly to Grenache with Mourvedre, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and small amounts of Roussane, Marsanne, and Bourboulenc.
In the winery, all ferments are naturally occurring, utilizing no cultivated yeasts or additives. Fermentation and aging occur mostly in underground concrete vats and recently amphora as well. To create balance and elegance in wines of such low yields, Marine uses a delicate hand during macerations to avoid heavy extractions as the fruit is already very concentrated.
Available wines from Domaine Joncier:
Lumen
- Varieties: Bourboulenc 40%, Marsanne 30%, Roussanne 30%
- Vinification: skin macerated in amphorae
- Aging: 5-8 months in amphorae with skins
- Vine Age: 20-40 years
L’O Rouge
- Varieties: Grenache 70%, Syrah 30%
- Vinification: Destemmed, spontaneous fermentation in concrete, maceration is shorter than in our Lirac cuvées
- Aging: 5-8 months in concrete vats, bottled before summer
- Vine Age: 15-50 years
ICI
- Varieties: Bourboulenc 40%, Marsanne 30%, Roussanne 30%
- Vinification: Destemmed, spontaneous fermentation in concrete, long but gentle macerations
- Aging: 18 months in underground concrete vats
- Vine Age: 15-50 years
More wines from Domaine Joncier:
L’O Rose, Regard (syrah dominant Lirac), Les Muses (mourvedre dominant Lirac),
Icarus (100% old vine mourvedre aged in amphorae, no sulphites added)
