Domaine du Paparotier, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Blanc, 2024

"Paparotier" is the Provençal name for the hackberry tree. This centuries-old tree stands proudly at the heart of the Chabran family estate, having witnessed generations of winegrowers. Today, Claude and his son Pierre continue this legacy, cultivating their Muscat Petits Grains vines with the utmost respect for their environment. From vine to bottle, every step has been carefully considered within an eco-design approach, creating a Muscat that is certified organic.

2023 was a year full of contrasts: warm temperatures at the end of December and beginning of January raised concerns about early budding; a return to normalcy continued until February with relatively cool weather; a persistent drought accompanied by a strong Mistral wind, followed by regular rainfall until the end of June. Thanks to constant vigilance in the vineyards, the berries were healthy and well-ripened when harvest started, promising one of the finest vintages of the past decade.

Sand, marl, and clay-limestone soils

Manual harvest at the coolest hours of the day. On arrival at the cellar, grapes are carefully cooled down to 10°C to preserve their aromas. Fermentation takes place at a low temperature and is stopped by "mutage" (addition of pure neutral alcohol) to maintain a certain level of natural sugar.