THE COLLECTION
“Birth of a Grand Cru.”
the reds
ABELARD & HELOISE
Chêne Bleu's two flagship reds are named after the most famous pair of French lovers - Abélard was a medieval theologian and philosopher, and Héloïse his brilliant disciple. Their romance was as passionate as it was illicit, condemning them to a lifetime of forced separation. Yet, through their ardent and erudite letters, their bond survived decades of monastic seclusion, turning a tragedy into a bittersweet love story.
There is no hierarchy between Abélard and Héloïse. Neither is a first, nor a second, label. Rather they are Yin and Yang, both made with the same exacting attention to detail, but very different in style: The former is intended to be opulent and expressive, the other elegant and restrained.
HELOISE
Héloïse — a Syrah-based blend with a bit of Grenache and a splash of white Viognier or Roussanne, depending on the vintage — reflects the balance and finesse unique to our high-elevation vineyards. This expression of Syrah is more characteristic of a cooler climate and more Northern latitude like that of the Northern Rhône.
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ASTRALABE
Our special cuvée, Astralabe, was named after Héloïse and Abélard’s son. This cuvée is younger in age and spirit than its complex collectible ‘parents’. It is our vibrant yet easy-drinking Grenache-Syrah blend - yet we think it displays more spice, nuance and aging ability than you’d expect in that style.
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THE WHITES
ALIOT
Chêne Bleu's flagship white is named after Aliot de Montvin, the glassblower who purchased the property in 1427 and changed its name to La Verrière. Although the estate sits at a southerly latitude, our high altitude and protracted ripening season gently draws out finesse and nuance. This convinced us we could create a white wine that was not only balanced, but also able to fully capture the complexity of this site.
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Viognier
As grapes go, Viognier is more finicky than most. Too much sun sends its characteristically intense aromatics into overdrive, while too little can yield wines nearly devoid of character. But once again, our altitude and extreme diurnal range allow us to craft a wine with voluptuous texture, fresh acidity, and beguiling aromas of flowers and honey.
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ASTRALABE BLANC
The first vintage of this new tiny production white wine was in 2019. A blend of mostly Grenache Blanc, with some smaller additions of Vermentino [Rolle], Clairette, Roussanne and Viognier, it is the little sister of our Grenache/Syrah Astralabe blend. With floral notes and hints of peach and white pears, this full-bodied, complex and aromatic wine has refreshing acidity, a rich mouthfeel and a long finish.
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the rosés
LE ROSÉ
Another noteworthy wine of the estate would be our Le Rosé, often referred to as a pioneer among the great gastronomic rosés of the world. Our direct-press Le Rosé has an old-vine Grenache base complemented by Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Vermentino [Rolle]. This wine often comes in the top drawer of worldwide prestigious competitions, due in part to its rich texture, unexpected complexity, incredibly long finish and aging capability, indicating a serious food rosé which appeals to oenophiles and gastronomes, as well as the enthusiastic rosé crowd.
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special projects
chêne bleu rosé vieilles vignes réserve spéciale 2017
A blend of old-vine Grenache and Syrah grown in elevated vineyards at approximately 500m [1,600ft] and above. Soil composition is largely clay-like limestone. Radiating bright salmon pink, the nose offers a generous basket of citrus, berries, and exotic fruits. Chiseled and multi-layered, the palate delivers even more toothsome fruits with herbs and floral notes against the backdrop of crispy acidity, leading to a long finish.
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pont des arts chêne bleu 2015
The launch of the first ever Rhône blend in the prestigious Pont des Arts wine collection marks a departure from the traditional regions in their portfolio, venturing beyond Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne to a remote and rugged part of the Southern Rhône valley. It was such a privilege to collaborate with iconic winemaker Paul Pontallier as well as his remarkable son Thibault on selecting a particularly fragrant small tank of 2015 Syrah to use as the building block of this Special Cuvée.
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Why not try your hand at some of our wine-pairing recipes.
“Chêne Bleu could one day achieve ‘cult’ wine status, a “Screaming Eagle” having taken flight from Provence’s garrigue.”
