IGP de la Drôme: Domaine Lombard 'Azalée' 2022
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The 'Azalée' cuvée is named after the Japanese Azalea flower and is a bright, vibrant purple-hued red wine with lush, juicy plum fruit. A blend of 90% Syrah and the remainder Viognier, it is co-fermented in the manner of Côte-Rôtie and is intended to be drunk on its youthful fruit.
Certified as an organic wine.
Jonathan Almeras' labels for Domaine Lombard's Brézème wines represent a freshness and vivacity not only on the outside, but in the contents of each bottle. From 20 to 40 year old vines on a pudding-stone soil (galets roulés), this 'Azalée' blend consists of mostly Syrah with 10% Viognier for added lift and colour and makes for a bright, juicy and aromatic red and black berry fruited wine with white pepper spice and a silky texture on the palate. Very gluggable and supple!
| Style | Red Wine, Sec, Medium-bodied, Non Sparkling |
|---|---|
| Wine Region | Rhône, Brézème |
| Grape Variety (Cépage) | Syrah, Viognier |
| Food & Wine Matching | Beef, Casserole, Charcuterie, Cheese |
| Viticulture | Organic |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Cellarage | Drink on its youthful fruit, or up to 4 to 6 years after vintage. |
| Vinification | This Northern Rhône-style blend owes its juicy, fresh fruit flavours to the fermentation starting via semi-carbonic maceration (grapes aren't pressed for the first 3 days, and macerate in tank as some of the initial fruit crushes the rest). Indigenous yeasts start the fermentation with 10 to 15% whole-bunch. Vinified and matured in tank and 4th and 5th fill barrels for 7 months before blending and bottling. |
| Alcohol By Volume (%) | 13.5 |
Domaine Lombard
In 1972, Jean-Marie Lombard took over family vineyards outside Livron-sur-Drôme and was rewarded when Brézème Côtes-du-Rhône was granted AOC status two years later. It was only in the early 1980s, with the encouragement of winemakers such as Gérard Chave, that Jean-Marie elected to strike out on his own and bottle his own wine, but the results thoroughly justified his decision.
In 2011, on the retirement of Jean-Marie and Sylvette Lombard, the Domaine was bought by Philippe Sapet. Its 23 hectares are now managed by son-in-law, Jonathan Alméras and Philippe's daughter daughter Pauline (a nurse). They are champions for sustainability, organic farming and aim to be certified biodynamic.
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