ORATOIRE ST MARTIN
The Abeille-Fabre families are owners of Mont Redon in Châteauneuf du Pape. A multigenerational business, at the helm today is Pierre Fabre. Pierre’s excitement in acquiring “Domaine de l’Oratoire Saint-Martin” cannot be overstated. Pierre strongly believes (in fact, he says, I know) that this is the best site in Cairanne. Located in Cairanne not far from Châteauneuf du Pape, this is historical vineyard of this appellation recently elevated to the label of Cru. Before the regulation changed the wines would simply be referred to as Cote du Rhone. Now, in the same way Chateauneuf du Pape is both a village and a Cru, Cairanne is a village and now a Cru. The style of Cairanne is very elegant with moderate fruit concentration (less than Lirac, Gigondas and of course Châteauneuf) but great length and complexity. The whites have slightly more texture than Mont-Redon style.
Farmed according to organic and biodynamic standards for ten generations, this vineyard is an amazing acquisition and sits nicely along Pierre’s Mont Redon.
Winemaking at the estate under the previous owners, the Alary brothers was very low interventionists. Read Natural. This is a philosophy that Pierre is excited to continue and explore. The estate was organic since the 90’s and bio since the 2000’s.