The softly spoken Andre Brunel is one of the area's finest winemakers but few observers in the wine world pay enough attention to his wines. If one looks at the hierarchy in Chateauneuf-du-Pape - those growers who consistently produce the finest wines - then Andre Brunel's should always be counted in the top half-a-dozen. The estate is made up of various vineyards dotted around the appellation and amount to around 20ha of vines which average 60 years of age. The cepage is made up from 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah with the remainder made up of the more obscure Chateauneuf varietals. Fermentation is wholly traditional with a 3-4 week cuvaison followed by a sojourn in a mixture of new and 1-2 year old oak barriques. Since 1989 no filtration is carried out. In style these wines are sumptuous and frequently forward upon release. However, they are very stylish and have a hidden depth and structure and in the finest vintages will age and develop for a decade or more.
