Winery Overview
Coteaux de Pierrevert is a little known appellation of 450ha created in 1998. The vineyards are located in the Alps of Haute Provence at between 420 and 550 meters of altitude, among the highest in France. The 62ha of Domaine Blaque, recognized as the leading estate of the appellation and certified organic, are managed by two oenologists, Gilles Delsuc who earned his degree in Dijon and his wife Laurence. For Gilles, “La Blaque is an exceptional terroir. The micro-climate, the diversity of the soils and the orientation of the vineyards are optimal. With almost 320 days of sun every year and a wide variation of temperature between the day and the night due to the altitude, the conditions are favorable to a well-balanced ripening of the grapes which allows us to harvest in mid September. The soils are clay-limestone, but with a lot of variation going from very chalky soils to heavier clay soils. The conditions are outstanding for Mediterranean viticulture.” The vineyards are planted for the most part on southern exposed hillsides and the yields are limited to 35-40ha/hl. The wines profit from the mediterranean climate for the sun and the alpine climate for cooler temperatures which results in wines of aromatic complexity and concentration, reminiscent of certain great wines of the Rhone valley.