Saint Damien 'Plan de Dieu' Vieille Vignes Cotes du Rhone Villages 2023
The Wine
80 % Grenache (1948), 20 % Mourvèdre (2010). This wine is sourced from the lower terraced parcels of the Plan de Dieu lieu-dit, in the commune of Violès. The Grenache vines are over 70 years old and come from two sites, one planted on red clay and the other on galets (smooth river-worn pebbles). The younger Mourvèdre vines are planted on sandy soil. The wine is fermented for 30 days in concrete vats, then matured for 10 months in a mix of concrete tanks and large old 50 hL oak foudres. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration.
Very successful in 2023 with extra freshness coming from nearly 50% whole bunch in the ferment. Lifted aromas, very bright and pure showing very good energy and drive with a fresh long vibrant finish. The best rendition of this cuvee to date that we have tasted. An outstanding value and a clear cut above most Cotes du Rhone reds.
91-93 Pts Jeb Dunnuck, April 2025 ‘Darker strawberries, framboise, spring flowers, and some Provençal, peppery nuances emerge from the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu Vieilles Vignes, a beautifully textured, medium-bodied 2023 that has ripe tannins and terrific balance.’
The Details
Variety - Grenache, Mourvèdre
Country - France
Region - Rhone
Sub Region - Cotes-du-Rhone Villages
Extra - Cork
Year - 2022
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Domaine Saint-Damien is managed by Joel and Amie Saurel, along with their son Romain, who has recently taken over the winemaking responsibilities. The Saurel family has been cultivating vineyards for four generations since 1821, and until recently, they sold all their grapes to negociants. Joel began producing wine again at the estate in 1996, and in 1998, they enlisted consulting winemaker Philippe Cambie. The vinification process is traditional, with wines fermented in large, aged cement tanks and matured in either cement tanks or large, old foudres for the Gigondas.
The estate now spans 17 hectares of vineyards, 12 of which are in Gigondas. All their vineyards have been certified organic since 2012. The vines, averaging 50 years old, yield very little. The Gigondas wines are bottled based on individual terroir, particularly soil type, known as the Saint Damien Trilogy. The incredibly complex geology and soils lead to exceptional wines.
