Domaine Fontchene Les Antiques Red Wine 2022

The domain

Last born in Saint Rémy de Provence, Domaine Fontchene was recently born thanks to René Milan’s desire to share his passion for nature and winegrowers’ wines. Its great potential was quickly noticed and since then the wines of Fontchene have the wind in stern.

DOMAINE FONTCHENE BY RENE MILAN

René Milan was born and raised in Saint Rémy, proud of the terroir of the Alpilles, he highlights it by creating wines from Fontchene in his image: authentic and alive. “Listening, observing and learning!” has always been the leitmotiv taught by his father, himself a winemaker. Indeed, René Milan’s passion for the vine comes first and foremost from his family. As a nephew of Henri Milan, also a winemaker in Saint Rémy, creating his own estate quickly became obvious, especially after his visit to Chateau Romanin, an emblematic domain for biodynamics in Provence.

EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE VINEYARDS OF THE WINE ESTATE FONTCHENE

For René Milan, working in biodynamics was essential since these viticultural methods contribute to the life of the soil as well as that of the Fontchene vines. In 2014, he conducted tests to compare the effects of organic farming and biodynamics on a plot of 2 hectares, the results were evident with much higher biodiversity and a more active plant in biodynamics. Since then, he uses the lunar calendar, natural preparations based on quartz, medicinal plants and cow dung, practice a soft pruning, manual harvest and separate vinifications for each plot, Domaine Fontchene puts every chance on his side in the making of his wines.

LES ANTIQUES AND AUPIHO WINES OF FONTCHENE

Domaine Fontchene now has 2 ranges: Les Antiques and Aupiho. In common, these wines have their exceptional balance and freshness linked to the terroir of the Alpilles and the work done in the cellar to preserve the very essence of the grape varieties grown. The Léon range is vinified in stainless steel tanks, as well as the new range Les Antiques (formerly the Léon range) and 12 months of barrels, including 10 % new barrels for the Fontchene Aupiho white cuvée. René Milan’s wish is to maintain complexity and depth at the end of the ageing process.