Domaine and vineyard
The Domaine Allemand has always been family run, and the passion for
viticulture has been passed on from generation to generation. The father of the
actual owner was the very first in the area to produce his own wine and, since
1954, all wines have been harvested, made, bottled and sold at the domain. In
1964 the tasting cellar designed by xxx was inaugurated, and from the
mid-seventies Marc began working at the domain, taking responsibility for the
running of it fifteen years later. Since then the efforts to constantly improve
the quality of the wines have continued, culminating in 1984 when the Domaine
to become the first in the Hautes Alpes to obtain the ‘Vin de Pays’ label
(since 2009 known as IGP– Indication
Géographique Protégée).
The vineyards are
near to the Serre-Ponçon dam, between Espinasses and Remollon, below the
village of Théüs. The vines stretch along the banks of the river Durance on
sunny south facing hillsides at between 650 and 750 metres altitude. The vine
parcels are small and dispersed, situated mainly on the alluvial slopes carved
out of the hillsides of Théüs. Their limestone clay and very stony soils give a
specificity to our terroir which is revealed in all our wines and most
particularly in our cuvee ‘Vieilles Vignes’ which is crafted from mollard, the
traditional grape variety of this valley.
The grape variety
Mollard (which means literally « little mound » or «
little mountain ») is the emblematic red grape variety of the Hautes-Alpes. It
forms an integral part of the history of vine growing in these valleys. And
yet, in the 1980s, many winegrowers decided to pull up these vines to replace
them with international varieties such as Cabernet or Syrah in order to appeal
to a large number of consumers. A few plots of Mollard remained in the
Hautes-Alpes, but through lack of attention their condition deteriorated, and the
variety risked extinction. Mollard is a variety that is particularly well
adapted to conditions of altitude and mountain terroir. Wines made from Mollard
are beautifully intense ruby red in colour, with spicy, lightly peppery aromas
and toasted notes on the nose. In the mouth they are smooth and full of
perfectly ripe red fruit. And, what is more, wines made from Mollard are low in
alcohol. Harvested at prime maturity, the degree of alcohol never exceeds 12°.
Marc Allemand, like his father before him, has always
cultivated the Mollard grape. From the beginning of the nineties, conscious of
the potential of this grape and anxious to protect the biodiversity of the
region, he embarked on a pioneering project to preserve this historic variety.
In collaboration with the French Vine Institute, and with the guidance of
France Agrimer, Marc Allemand patiently selected the healthiest and most
vigorous plants from his vineyards. After 10 years of work, two of these plants
were finally chosen to be preserved and reproduced in order to re-establish the
production of Mollard. A rootstock nursery of Mollard was planted in the
following years, and looked after by Domaine Allemand. It was a long and costly
adventure, but Marc Allemand’s work finally bore fruit with Mollard making its
official entry into the official French catalogue of recognised grape varieties
in 2005.
The wine
The
Domaine Allemand Theusien
Rouge “Vieilles Vignes” 2015 is 100% Mollard.
Tasting Note
Date
|
06 December 2016
|
|
|
Wine name
|
LE THEUSIEN ROUGE
|
Vintage
|
2015
|
Nation
|
France
|
Region
|
Hautes-Alpes
|
AOC-DOC
|
//
|
Grape Varieties
|
Mollard
|
Serving temperature
|
16-18° C
|
Alcohol
|
12
|
Price (in euro)
|
8
|
SO2 (in mg/l)
|
Nd
|
|
|
|
|
Visual Examination
|
Taste analysis
|
Limpidity
|
Limpid
|
Body
|
Full
|
Color
|
Ruby Red
|
Balance
|
Balanced
|
Consistency
|
Quite consistent
|
Soft sensations
|
Quite Soft
|
Effervescence
|
//
|
Hard sensations
|
Quite Fresh, Quite Tannic
|
|
|
Flavors intensity
|
Quite Intense
|
Olfactory analysis
|
Flavours
|
Red berries
|
Aroma intensity
|
Quite Intense
|
|
|
Complexity
|
Quite Complex
|
Finish/Persistence
|
Quite Persistent
|
Quality
|
Fine
|
Overall evaluations
|
Aromas
|
Spices, Pepper, Vanilla
|
Development
|
Ready
|
|
Toasted bread, Red Fruits
|
Harmony
|
Harmonious
|
Food pairing
The wine is the deal match for mountain hams and mature Queyras cheeses.
Very good matching also with Asiatic food or Pizza.
Ancora un nuovo vitigno. Mollard e
Domaine Allemand sono una cosa sola, frutto della tenacia di questa famiglia
nel riscoprire e valorizzare questo vitigno. Nella versione in purezza il
risultato é un vino leggero, da pasto che si beve piacevolmente. Il colore é un
bel rubino e i sentori di frutti rossi e spezie sono ben definiti. In bocca il
vino é fresco, abbastanza tannico con un
buon finale sempre sui frutti rossi.
