Château de la Selve

The History of the Château de la Selve

The Château de la Selve was originally a fortified castle in the 13th century, which served as a stronghold to protect the borders of the empire and then the kingdom of France. It then became the property of the Dukes of Joyeuses who transformed it into a hunting lodge.

Over time, the castle was somewhat neglected by its owners and deteriorated considerably. It changed ownership several times and gradually became a farm.

Its current owners, the Chazallon family, have completely restructured the estate to devote it to viticulture.

The Château de la Selve estate

Benoît Chazallon now runs a 44-hectare vineyard, managed organically and biodynamically. His approach is the least interventionist possible, so that the grapes grow naturally, benefiting from the natural defences that the vine can shape, thanks to organic farming. This method also gives finesse to the wines and allows them to freely express their minerality.

The winemaking process is also as natural as possible. It gives the wines the opportunity to magnify the qualities of the Ardèche terroir. The soil of Château de la Selve is mostly clay and limestone and dates from the Cretaceous period. The climate is very sunny, with very high temperatures during the day, contrasting with the cool nights.

The grape varieties are Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier. The production is composed of 9 cuvées in IGP Coteaux de l'Ardèche and 3 ranges of wines " Les domaines ", " Les Terroirs " and " Les Confidentielles ".

The wines of Château de la Selve

The Confidentielles du Château de la Selve are made from a selection of the finest grapes from the estate.

The Confidentielles - Florence

The Florence cuvée from Confidentielles at Château de la Selve is a red wine made from Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and a hint of Viognier grapes.

Its colour is a very dark red. The nose is expressive, exhaling a complex but still subtle mix of black fruits, liquorice and humus. The palate is powerful and elegant, with very fine tannins. The wine is fresh, with a long, rich and fruity finish. Cuvée Florence can be kept for 15 to 20 years. The wine should be served chilled, between 12 and 17°C. It goes wonderfully with all game.

Les Confidentielles - L'audacieuse

L'Audacieuse from Château de la Selve is presented as a true terroir rosé. It is a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache and 20% Viognier. Its light pink colour offers a crystalline brilliance. The nose is intense and greedy, full of red fruit and citrus. The finesse of its mouth and its freshness favour the long persistence of its fruitiness. The wine is best served between 12 and 17°C to accompany spicy, French or exotic dishes. It can be kept for up to 10 years.