Domaine du Gros Pata Côtes du Rhone Blanc de Blanc 2008

Winery Description

Where does the name come from…?
"Because this house was the last one on the way out of the commune, a wooden plaque on the wall used to read "OCTROI de VAISON " (Vaison la Romaine). In this age, it was necessary to pay "Patas", (Provençal coins) in order to go to the, adjacent town of Villedieu.

Geographical Location
Domaine du Gros-Pata is located in the Vaison la Romaine commune on the Route de Villedieu, surrounded by the villages of Gigondas, Cairanne, Séguret, Rasteau, Roaix, Sablet, Valréas and Beaumes de Venise at the foot of the majestic Mont Ventoux: the Sun King of all of Provence.

History
The “Le Gros-Pata“ estate represents the history of an entire family for four generations.
It was founded at the beginning of the century by the great grandfather of Aglaé, the wife of Paul Garagnon, whom she married in 1947 and who for a long time had produced her harvests by bringing them to agricultural cooperatives.
It was not until 1978 that he decided to create his own cellar, which he occupied up until the last day of his life in 1992.
His son Gérald took over the estate and, with the help of his mother Aglaé, his wife Geneviève and their daughter Sabine, modernized it and began showing the wines at the biggest exhibitions in France.
Today Sabine, with her Viticultural-Oenological degrees, has taken the reigns "with youth and charm", and has since picked up multiple medals at agricultural competitions.

The Vineyard
This entire vineyard is planted on high, fertile hills, far away from the pollution of the towns.
Perfect exposure allows for complete ripening of the grape under the blazing caress of the Provençal sun. This gives our wines, with a minimum of handling, a terroir taste that is pure, supple, fruity, pronounced and fragrant with a wild bouquet.

Main Varietals
Red Wines: Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre
White Wines: Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc

Spirit
They are the originators and curators of a wine that is crafted by them and bears their signature. This is the wine of the "Gros-Pata".
This family tradition which is respected and maintained allows for vinification and oak barrel aging that emphasizes and preserves these noble varietals that, after the vinification, quietly continue their maturing in the oak casks that give them a slightly oaky and heady taste.

Tasting notes

This oak-aged wine has a very pale straw-yellow color both shiny and clear. The nose contains aromas of juicy white fruit, pear and dried apricot. It has a completely fresh opening that is well supported by body and volume in the middle of the mouth. Aromas of pear blend with grapefruit to produce a beautiful finish.
Serve with fish, seafood or spring salads at 8˚ to 10˚ C.

Vinification

 Rhone Valley – AOC Côtes du Rhône

The fresh fragrance of this wine hints at the well-rounded, complex flavor that follows. A great Cote du Rhone white that's just right for the season.