Domaine de Tournelles

4.3

(2 customer reviews)

The winemaker

One day, it all came together... A meeting between the very old vines of this small vineyard, so beautifully set against the slopes of Calignac, and Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux, a passionate winegrower. Charmed by its hillside location, especially as the Calignac hillsides have a very good reputation, but also by the Domaine's very old vines (30 years old), Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux didn't hesitate to take the Domaine's destiny into his own hands in 1994, understanding the qualitative potential that lay there. Right from the start, Domaine de Tournelles had all the potential: vines over 30 years old, a terroir already renowned for its alternating gravelly and clay-limestone soils, ideally situated on the slopes of Calignac overlooking the Garonne valley, and an oceanic climate that produces both varied and distinctive wines. Not wanting to make a Bordeaux or a Cahors, Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux set out to find what, beyond the imposed grape varieties, could recreate the true Buzet typicity. Rarely used, yet authorized by the Appellation, Malbec is, in his opinion, the key grape variety for the renaissance. So he introduced it to the vineyard to complement Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Always guided by his passion for making the best wines, he imposed rigorous vineyard management and began replanting at a very high density: 6666 vines per hectare. The traditional winemaking method focuses on extracting elegant tannins and a vatting period of around 18 days to concentrate matter and fruit. Vinification temperature is around 30°. Ageing is also traditional, lasting a minimum of 1 year.