Domaine du Banneret

At the heart of Châteauneuf du Pape lies the Domaine du Banneret, a boutique, family-owned estate comprising 3.5 hectares of historic vineyards dating back to 1405. Currently helmed by Jean-Claude Vidal, a Bertet family descendant, and his daughter Audrey, the estate embodies both heritage and innovation, with a passion for traditional winemaking techniques.

Sprawling around the iconic castle ruins, their vineyards, organically farmed and divided into eight parcels, are a homage to biodiversity. The stony, galet-covered terrain nurtures all 13 Rhône varieties interplanted harmoniously, creating a complex tapestry of flavors and aromas.

Their vinification practices are an homage to tradition, favoring co-fermentation, non-destemming, and refraining from fining and filtering the wine. The wisdom of former winemaking mentors Jacques Reynaud and Henri Bonneau resonates in every bottle, imparting a taste of the past, tinged with the essence of the Vidal family's unique vision.

Jean-Claude's association with Henri Bonneau went beyond mere mentorship. Bonneau not only guided Vidal in his initial vintages but also offered his cellars for the first vintages of Banneret, establishing the foundation for the estate's signature age-worthy, traditional wines.

Transitioning from an architect to a vintner, Jean-Claude introduced principles of biodynamic farming and an appreciation for terroir to the estate, embodying the spirit of artistic freedom and authenticity inherent in small-scale wineries. This ethos is shared with Jean-Marc Espinasse of Domaine Rouge-Bleu, illustrating the influence of Domaine du Banneret in the wine community.

The continuation of the Domaine's legacy lies in the capable hands of Audrey Vidal. Having returned to Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Verona, Italy, Audrey not only upholds the traditional principles of her family's winemaking but also innovatively expands the domaine's scope by purchasing an additional 0.5 hectares.

Fermentation occurs in concrete vats without destemming, followed by two years of aging in used Bordeaux and Burgundy barrels. Their diligent racking process ensures a natural purification of the wine and a necessary dose of oxygenation, resulting in a mere 800 cases annually from low-yielding vines.

Domaine du Banneret's red wine captures the quintessential spirit of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, an elegant embodiment of place and heritage. With a predominant Grenache base and a generous blend of permitted varieties, it yields an intricate flavor profile, establishing Domaine du Banneret as the epitome of exceptional and noteworthy wine production.