# Domaine des Anges Cabernet Sauvignon (2023)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Anges
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €19
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, herbaceous, mint, vanilla, cloves, smoke, cedar, tobacco

## About this wine

Domaine des Anges is a boutique hillside estate situated above the village of Mormoiron, looking out toward the dramatic peak of Mont Ventoux in the Southern Rhône. Grapes have been cultivated on this hillside for over 2,000 years, dating back to Roman times. The modern history of the domain began in 1973 when Malcolm Swan, an English opera enthusiast, bought the property and planted Cabernet Sauvignon—a grape highly atypical for the region. In 1992, Irish businessman Gay McGuinness purchased the estate, investing in a modern gravity-fed winery and adding the Kilkenny coat of arms to the labels. Today, French winemaker Florent Chave crafts these unique wines. The 2023 vintage benefited from the estate's high altitude of 400 meters, where cool mountain nights mitigated the intense August heatwave, preserving freshness and producing a wine of exceptional depth.

## Interesting facts

- A complete anomaly: 100% old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the heart of Grenache and Syrah country.
- The estate brings goats and sheep into the vineyards to manage weeds naturally and fertilize the soil.
- Highly limited micro-production of only 400 cases (4,800 bottles) produced for the entire vintage.
- The wine label features the Irish Kilkenny coat of arms, reflecting the heritage of owner Gay McGuinness.

## Food pairing

This structured, high-tannin Cabernet Sauvignon requires rich, protein-heavy dishes to soften its robust tannic profile. The wine's natural acidity and herbal garrigue notes complement roasted meats seasoned with rosemary and thyme, while its bold dark fruit flavors stand up beautifully to rich, savory sauces.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for this micro-production Cabernet Sauvignon is carefully managed to preserve fruit purity and manage structure. Grapes are hand-harvested from 50-year-old vines, crushed, and destemmed. Fermentation is conducted under strict temperature control at 24°C to protect primary fruit aromatics. The winemaker utilizes structured pumpovers and extended maceration to extract deep color and soft, integrated tannins. The wine is aged for 6 months, primarily in tanks with integrated oak contact, before undergoing a very light filtration and bottling.