Notify me
2018 Alpilles Blanc “Jaspe”
Domaine HauvetteOnce again, prepare yourself to be wowed. I now have three favorite Roussannes. One is from the Ravaille brothers at Pic Saint Loup (fine, theirs isn’t 100% Roussanne, but who’s counting?). Then there is the Chignin-Bergeron from the Quenard family in the Savoie. Here’s the third. From vines deeply rooted in the garrigue-encrusted, limestone foothills of Les Alpilles, Jaspe is fermented in concrete eggs and aged briefly in stainless steel. A gorgeous perfume of honeysuckle meets the nose, and the wine is at once both lush and nervy, comforting and stimulating. It is picture-perfect with Provençal cuisine, those garlicky, herby, tomato-based dishes that sometimes give white wine a hard time.
—Dixon Brooke
Anthony's Pick
Dominique Hauvette's wines certainly don't lack character, and her pure Roussanne, from sun-kissed grapes planted in limestone, is one of the most elegant renditions of the grape out there, brimming with delicate aromas and voluptuous layers of flavor.
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Roussanne |
Appellation: | Alpilles |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence |
Producer: | Domaine Hauvette |
Winemaker: | Dominique Hauvette |
Vineyard: | 15 years average, 2 ha |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Biodynamic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Cassis Blanc “Bel-Arme”
France | Provence
With a touch of creaminess following the crisp stone fruit, it’s a Mediterranean white in a cashmere sweater.
2017 Alpilles Blanc “Dolia”
France | Provence
Biodynamically farmed Roussanne, Clairette, and Marsanne from rocky limestone in Van Gogh's Provence.
2022 Bandol Rosé
France | Provence
Embodying what Tempier is all about—celebration, gaiety, and delicious simplicity.
2020 Alpilles Rouge “Amethyste”
France | Provence
Cinsault raised in concrete egg: all about finesse.
2022 Alpilles Blanc “Jaspe”
France | Provence
A gorgeous perfume of honeysuckle meets the nose, and the wine is at once both lush and nervy, comforting and stimulating.
2016 Les Baux de Provence Rouge “Cornaline”
France | Provence
After seven years, the 2016 is in its sweet spot, evoking sumptuous fruits like sour plum and fig, which make this cuvée distinctly Provençal.
2016 Alpilles Blanc “Dolia”
France | Provence
Biodynamically farmed Roussanne, Clairette, and Marsanne from rocky limestone in Van Gogh's Provence.
2014 Bandol Rouge
France | Provence
The inky purple juice staining your tongue as you wash down a garlicky morsel of rosemary-studded lamb tastes not unlike it did shortly after the grapes were crushed and racked into Alain’s large oak casks.
2018 Alpilles Rouge “Amethyste”
France | Provence
Cinsault raised in concrete egg: all about finesse.
2022 Alpilles Rouge “Grenache”
France | Provence
A thoroughbred of pure Grenache, this unbridled rouge is fresh and lithe, teeming with juicy dark fruit and ample goût de terroir.
About The Producer
Domaine Hauvette
Not far from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a tourist town known for Roman ruins and as the place where Van Gogh painted “The Starry Night,” you’ll find Domaine Hauvette. Nestled among the foothills of Les Alpilles, the vines are surrounded by a rocky and wild landscape—the clay and limestone soil retains moisture for the arid summer months, the Mistral blows half the year, and <em>garrigue</em> is seemingly everywhere. It is here that in the early 1980s Dominique Hauvette, seeking more sunshine, left her job as a lawyer in the Savoie, re-discovered her passion for raising horses, and began studying oenology. Thirty-some years later and Dominique now has 17 hectares of vines and an international reputation for making benchmark natural wines.
About The Region
Provence
Perhaps there is no region more closely aligned with the history to Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant than Provence. Provence is where Richard Olney, an American ex-pat and friend of Alice Waters, lived, and introduced Kermit to the great producers of Provence, most importantly Domaine Tempier of Bandol. Kermit also spends upwards of half his year at his home in a small town just outside of Bandol.
Vitis vinifera first arrived in France via Provence, landing in the modern day port city of Marseille in the 6th century BC. The influence of terroir on Provençal wines goes well beyond soil types. The herbs from the pervasive scrubland, often referred to as garrigue, as well as the mistral—a cold, drying wind from the northwest that helps keep the vines free of disease—play a significant role in the final quality of the grapes. Two more elements—the seemingly ever-present sun and cooling saline breezes from the Mediterranean—lend their hand in creating a long growing season that result in grapes that are ripe but with good acidity.
Rosé is arguably the most well known type of wine from Provence, but the red wines, particularly from Bandol, possess a great depth of character and ability to age. The white wines of Cassis and Bandol offer complexity and ideal pairings for the sea-influenced cuisine. Mourvèdre reigns king for red grapes, and similar to the Languedoc and Rhône, Grenache, Cinsault, Marsanne, Clairette, Rolle, Ugni Blanc among many other grape varieties are planted.
More from Provence or France
2020 Côtes de Provence Syrah “Les Planches de la Garedivole”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2020 Cassis Blanc “Bel-Arme”
Clos Sainte Magdeleine France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2022 Cassis Blanc
Clos Ste Magdeleine France | Provence
Les Baux de Provence Olive Oil “Les Baux”
Moulin Jean-Marie Cornille France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge “Lulu et Lucien”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2022 Bouches-du-Rhône Rosé “Marie de Magdala”
Clos Ste Magdeleine France | Provence
2022 Bandol Blanc
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2022 Côtes de Provence Rosé
Sainte Magdeleine France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
2020 Côtes de Provence Syrah “Les Planches de la Garedivole”
Clos Saint-Joseph France | Provence
2020 Cassis Blanc “Bel-Arme”
Clos Sainte Magdeleine France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rouge
“La Migoua”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2022 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de la Tour du Bon France | Provence
2022 Cassis Blanc
Clos Ste Magdeleine France | Provence
Les Baux de Provence Olive Oil “Les Baux”
Moulin Jean-Marie Cornille France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge “Lulu et Lucien”
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2022 Bouches-du-Rhône Rosé “Marie de Magdala”
Clos Ste Magdeleine France | Provence
2022 Bandol Blanc
Domaine Tempier France | Provence
2020 Bandol Rouge
Domaine du Gros ’Noré France | Provence
2022 Côtes de Provence Rosé
Sainte Magdeleine France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé
Domaine de Terrebrune France | Provence
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174