Domaine de Marcoux

Domaine de Marcoux is a pioneer in French biodynamic winegrowing. In the late 1980s, it was the first in Châteauneuf to adopt biodynamics. Since then, and especially since 1995, when sisters Catherine and Sophie took over, Domaine de Marcoux has been on the road to absolute greatness. Yet, they are so small that they produce an average of just 30,000 bottles per year. This artisanal winery remains a hidden treasure for many. Despite Robert Parker adding the sisters to his Wine Personalities of the Year list back in 2003.

The vineyards
The 25 hectares of vineyards are spread across the appellation and are therefore blessed with a cross-section of Châteauneuf terroir, from the region’s iconic large galets roulés to sand, gravel and limestone. The average age of the vines is around 50 years, with the oldest vines dating back over 100 vintages. Marcoux’s wines come from seven parcels of biodynamically farmed vines. These parcels cover a wide range of soil types: sandy soils in Charbonnières, red clay and pebbles in L’Arnesque and Les Bouquets, marl in Les Esquirons and Beaurenard, and red clay and gravel in Gallimardes, Les Serres and Les Plagnes in the south.

Vieilles Vignes
This varied terroir allows Marcoux to produce wines that reflect Châteauneuf as a region and are balanced year after year, as each parcel is vinified separately before the wines are blended. Only the best grapes go into the wine, the rest are sold. In the very best vintages, the sisters release their cuvée Vieilles Vignes, a masterpiece of 100% Grenache from the three ‘crown jewel parcels’ of exceptionally old vines in Charbonnières, les Esquierons and Gallimardes. But keep this gem a secret, there is so little of it…

The pure essence
Catherine takes care of the vines and Sophie makes the wines. Vincent Estevenin, Sophie’s son, has also been involved since 2016; he is the intended successor. Their love for wines with purity, aroma, seduction and balance is unmistakable: you can taste it in all the wines they make. They interfere as little as possible with the natural process. And that is not necessary when the ingredients are so pure and balanced. All yeasts are natural and the wines do not see any oak. Sophie: “We intervene as little as possible during vinification. We do not do pigeage to obtain colour, because we do not want to get in the way of the expression of the fruit.” If you want to taste the pure essence of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you have to drink wine from Domaine de Marcoux. Nothing more, nothing less.