The Domaine Les Évigneaux spreads over 10 hectares in Rasteau, a charming village in the southern Rhone Valley. Perched on a hill overlooking the Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains, the uneven terrain of the Rasteau vineyards offers a great diversity of soils and a fascinating landscape. From one terrace to another, depending on the slopes, we go from a clay-chalk soil to blue marl, and rounded pebbles to red marl. With over fifteen plots spread over the entire Rasteau appellation, this estate takes full advantage of this geological diversity which has assured the reputation of this Rhone Valley Cru.
In 2014 the Lavau family purchased the Domaine Les Évigneaux vineyards, having always admired the complexity and power of the Rasteau appellation. The story of the Lavau family, with its passion for wine and its love of the terroir and the land, began in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century, continuing in Tunisia where René Lavau and his son transformed a small estate of vines and orange trees into a flourishing business which became the country’s biggest wine producer. His grandson Jean-Guy returned to France with his wife Anne-Marie in the 1960s and took charge of a small winemaking cellar in Sablet at the heart of the Rhone Valley, which would become Maison Lavau in 1965.
Some 30 years later, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau joined the team at their family winery which has since become a renowned and respected name in Rhone Valley winemaking. Because of their special fondness for these vineyards, they decided to acquire this 10-hectare estate in the appellation in 2014, consisting of 12 plots located in Rasteau’s most emblematic terroirs. Grenache is planted to the north in cooler soil, accentuating the variance between day and night time temperatures and thereby enhancing the color and aromatic intensity of the varietal. The pebble and gravel soil mixed with complex clay allows constant, even drainage and water supply. The Syrah vines are planted in the gravel and clay soil of the Quaternary terraces of Bellerive. Located in the south of the appellation, these are sunny and early ripening, providing the vines with perfect growing conditions. The wine is macerated on the skins for 28 days with pumping over and rack and return before being aged in 228L barrels from François Frères in Burgundy.
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