The grape varieties of the Domaine du Météore
Syrah
Syrah is a very old grape variety that comes from Syracuse, Syria or Iran. It is the emblematic grape variety of the Côte Rôtie PDO, which has a schist terroir, just like Faugères, in which this grape variety reveals all its potential. It is a grape variety of great nobility which brings a deep color, a beautiful tannic structure and which confers to our wines characteristic aromas of casis, graphite and ink. It is the main grape variety of the Lyrides and Parangon vintages.
Grenache
Grenache is a very qualitative grape variety which gives rich, fruity and greedy wines. It is a very vigorous, drought-resistant and productive grape variety, but it is very sensitive to coulure during flowering (unfertilized flowers that will not produce berries). This grape variety has existed since the Middle Ages in the Languedoc, it would have been imported by the pilgrims of Saint Jacques de Compostelle. Grenache is the majority grape variety of the Perseides vintage and is used in the blending of our rosés.
Carignan
Carignan is native to Spain, its name comes from the town of Cariñena located in the province of Zaragoza in the region of Aragon. It is a resistant, late grape variety that withstands wind and drought but is very sensitive to powdery mildew. Vinified at the Meteora estate separately with part of the whole bunches in the vat, it gives the Carignides cuvée which has aromas of cherry pits, black fruits and pepper.
Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre is also native to Spain in the Valencia region. It is a very delicate and fragile grape variety that produces wines with a very fine tannic structure and characteristic aromas of peppermint and cardamom. The wines made from Mourvèdre have a strong potential for ageing. It is used at the Domaine du Météore in the blending of the Lyrides and Perseides vintages.
Cinsault
Cinsault is a grape variety native to Provence. It is very productive and recognizable by the size of its berries. The wines made from Cinsault have little color, few tannins and delicate aromas. At Domaine du Météore, it is used in the blending of our rosés.
Roussanne
Roussanne is native to the south of France. It is a low yielding, late ripening grape variety that produces golden, dense, smooth, complex wines with a strong ageing potential. Roussanne grapes have small berries that become golden and even copper-colored when ripe. It is used in the blending of the Leonides vintage and will bring complexity and delicacy while letting the mineral aromas express themselves.
Vermentino
Vermentino is a grape variety that originated in the vineyards of Madeira and then migrated to France via Spain. It is resistant to drought and high temperatures but it fears the wind. Vermentino is a productive grape variety that produces mineral wines, with citrus notes, and brings a good acidity to the blends. It is used in the composition of Lyrides and Leonides.
Clairette
Clairette is a vigorous and fertile grape variety that thrives on dry and stony soils. It is part of the Leonides blend, it is not very aromatic and will let all the minerality of our terroir express itself.
Viognier
Viognier is native to the Rhone Valley. It is sensitive to wind but it adapts very well to poor, stony and dry soils. It gives fat wines, rich in alcohol, fine with typical aromas of apricots. It is used in small quantities in the Léonides blend and brings volume and greediness.
