DOMAINE BRUN AVRIL - CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

In 2008, Jean-Jacques Avril inherited five hectares of century-old Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre vines from his mother. Amazed by the beauty of these vines, but having never made wine himself, he decided to intern at Domaine Charvin, one of the legendary names in the region. 

Thus, Domaine Brun Avril was officially born with the 2009 vintage. Today, Jean-Jacques is joined by his son Henri, who is gradually taking on the role of winemaker and handling international markets. 

In total, the estate produces only 700 cases of each vintage: a cuvée of red Châteauneuf, as well as a cuvée of white Châteauneuf, with the arrival of a tiny parcel of white grape vines that Jean-Jacques inherited in 2020.

The estate's vineyards are located 350 feet above sea level on clay-limestone and sandy-clay soils in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. Its land is loaded with pebbles, the iconic rounded rocks found throughout the southern Rhône. Thanks to its elevated position and the Mistral - the famous wind that travels from Provence to Châteauneuf - the wines of Domaine Brun Avril possess an elegance and finesse that has become a rarity in the region today. 

While many estates have chosen to produce super-rich, extracted wines, Jean-Jacques' vision has always been to stay true to the original winemaking style of the region. His goal is to produce wines that drink well right out of the gate, but age gracefully for decades. In fact, Domaine Brun Avril only releases its red wines after five years. Jean-Jacques believes that most winemakers in his region make the mistake of rushing their wines to market. “Patience," he says, "is the key to bringing out the full expression of a Chateauneuf. 

The estate may be small, but its wines are without a doubt the most exciting we've tasted in the region in recent years.