Wine Article
2009 Domaine de Trévallon
Last edited on 4/8/2015 by PeterMole
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Description
50% Caberenet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah
The word "cult wine" gets used a lot describe wines now, but there are some that deserve it. Domaine de Trevallon has always been considered the cult wine of Provence. The wine is in huge demand around the world.
The estate was purchased by Rene Durrbach back in 1955, but it was his son Eloi that planted the first vines in 1973 and produced his first wine in 1977 and helped establish "Les Beaux de Provence" as a top wine producing area in France. Domaine de Trevallon has always been a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah. As you can see from the current label above, it no longer says AOC "Les Beaux de Provence". The wine has not changed, the law changed in 1993 -- "Les Beaux de Provence" can now only contain a maximum of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, so the wine is now labeled "Indication Geographique Protegee" -- basically the new name for Vin de Pays. Eloi Durrbach followed in the tradition of the Italian Super Tuscans, he did not want to compromise his wines by "laws", he wanted to keep the quality and integrity of his wine so he took the "Vin de Pays" designation and kept his wine the way he wanted it.
Well, in fact Dürrbach was pressured to conform to the demands of the AOC les Beaux from the beginning, but he refused. Then the law was changed with the assumption that Dürrbach would not want to loose the right to call his wine AOC les Beaux. But he did not give in. Dürrbach did not follow the Italian Super Tuscans, but if anything he was the forerunner. His wines were increasing in price until Parker, who was a fan of the wine, gave the 2000 vintage a very bad press. Not surprising that such a thing would happen, because it is not a typical Parker wine. Trevallon is elegant, sometimes needs >10 years to show its beauty and it is not a muscleman.
It was back in 1978 that Aubert de Vilaine from the Domaine de la Romanée Conti tasted the wines and was so impressed that he recommend his importer, Kermit Lynch to import the wines into the United States. Kermit Lynch no longer imports the wine, but the quality remains the same.
A word about the label:
Before Eloi's father died in 2000, Eloi had his father, Rene, create a series of artwork to be used as labels for the wine. He created a number labels before his death and a different one is used every year. One of Rene's best friends was Pablo Picasso (also the godfather of Eloi)
50% Caberenet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah
The word "cult wine" gets used a lot describe wines now, but there are some that deserve it. Domaine de Trevallon has always been considered the cult wine of Provence. The wine is in huge demand around the world.
The estate was purchased by Rene Durrbach back in 1955, but it was his son Eloi that planted the first vines in 1973 and produced his first wine in 1977 and helped establish "Les Beaux de Provence" as a top wine producing area in France. Domaine de Trevallon has always been a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah. As you can see from the current label above, it no longer says AOC "Les Beaux de Provence". The wine has not changed, the law changed in 1993 -- "Les Beaux de Provence" can now only contain a maximum of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, so the wine is now labeled "Indication Geographique Protegee" -- basically the new name for Vin de Pays. Eloi Durrbach followed in the tradition of the Italian Super Tuscans, he did not want to compromise his wines by "laws", he wanted to keep the quality and integrity of his wine so he took the "Vin de Pays" designation and kept his wine the way he wanted it.
Well, in fact Dürrbach was pressured to conform to the demands of the AOC les Beaux from the beginning, but he refused. Then the law was changed with the assumption that Dürrbach would not want to loose the right to call his wine AOC les Beaux. But he did not give in. Dürrbach did not follow the Italian Super Tuscans, but if anything he was the forerunner. His wines were increasing in price until Parker, who was a fan of the wine, gave the 2000 vintage a very bad press. Not surprising that such a thing would happen, because it is not a typical Parker wine. Trevallon is elegant, sometimes needs >10 years to show its beauty and it is not a muscleman.
It was back in 1978 that Aubert de Vilaine from the Domaine de la Romanée Conti tasted the wines and was so impressed that he recommend his importer, Kermit Lynch to import the wines into the United States. Kermit Lynch no longer imports the wine, but the quality remains the same.
A word about the label:
Before Eloi's father died in 2000, Eloi had his father, Rene, create a series of artwork to be used as labels for the wine. He created a number labels before his death and a different one is used every year. One of Rene's best friends was Pablo Picasso (also the godfather of Eloi)