Domaine du Galet des Papes is located in the village of Chateauneuf du Pape.
Jean-Luc Mayard started in 1976 but the Cellar was built by his Grand Father. He works with his wine and his daughter, Blandine.
Date Founded: 1976
The Family MAYARD, a Chateauneuf-du-Pape native, already owned a property at the time of Napoléon III.
The 2nd generation, Lucien MAYARD, undertakes to grow vines on the lands inherited from his father.
The 3rd generation, Marius MAYARD and Fernand MAYARD. Fernand, brother of Marius and uncle of Roger, built the winery in 1929.
The 4th generation, Roger MAYARD, married to Alice MERLE, owned some additionnal lands, starts the bottling and develops commercialization.
The 5th generation, in 1976, when Jean-Luc MAYARD, the son, takes the succession "Domaine Roger MAYARD" becomes "Domaine Roger MAYARD & Fils".
When his father Roger MAYARD retires, the "Domaine" is then called : "Domaine Mayard Jean-Luc".
In 1990 the Domaine becomes "Domaine du Galet des Papes". It symbolises the prestigious synthesis of our vineyard, spread with big rolled pebbles.
The 6th generation, Blandine MAYARD, after seven years of studies and work experiences about the different stapes of the vineyard and the wine, installs to the Domaine in 2012 !
The Estate is 13.9 hectares in size. 13 of them are within the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC (12 hecatres for the red and 1 hectare for the white), the rest (0.9 hectare) is Cotes-du-Rhone AOC.
They have 22 different parcels.
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When the founding fathers of the Napa Valley carved out new sub-AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in the 1980s, Soda Canyon Ranch was not yet on anyone’s map. The vineyard is neighbored to the northwest and west by the winegrowing districts of Stags Leap District and Oak Knoll District, respectively, which were among the early pioneers of California Cabernet Sauvignon to attain global fame. To the northeast and southeast—and further off the beaten path—were Atlas Peak and Coombsville, thought to be the next frontiers for the emerging wine-producing region.
This opulent wine has a broad and balanced mid-palate, notes of vanilla and blueberry, a dried floral character and chalky tannins. Anise and cherry lift the palate to a beautiful, lingering finish. In both aromatics and palate, this is an elegant vintage worthy of cellaring for years to come.
The winter of 2019 was marked by cold, foggy days in Napa Valley. Well-drained soils of Soda Canyon Ranch and steady, purposeful farming decisions mitigated the rainy and wet conditions as they persisted into spring. After months of ever-shifting weather, the vines were greeted by a consistent, warm and dry summer plus a mild harvest season, resulting in bright and ethereal fruit. Once blended, the 2019 vintage rested in French oak barrels for 16 months.
Sojourn Pinot Noir Walala Vineyard is 100% Pinot Noir.
This Walala Vineyard resides at 1,200-feet elevation just miles from the ocean in the northern Sonoma Coast. Cool coastal breezes and thick fog helped the grapes mature evenly through the September heat wave.
2022 was a drought vintage that offered only miniscule yields, with small clusters and tiny berries. Sojourn were only able to produce a small quantity of this exceptional Pinot Noir. It offers layers of red fruit aromas with tropical notes.
Review:
"With just 5% whole cluster to give it a touch of added structure and weight, the Walala Pinot Noir from Sojourn is aged in 50% new French oak. Displaying a ruby-red core with a light pink rim in the glass, it boasts pleasant aromas of red and black cherries, marionberries, wet-turned earth, crushed pink peppercorn, dusty flower petals, and sweet baking spices. Tannins are present but sweet and rounded and pair perfectly with the lush acidity that sweeps across the palate. Another winner from winemaker, Randy Bennett, is highly recommended."
- Jeremy Yount, International Wine Review 96 points