Moulin des Chênes is run by Laurent Bréchet of Château de Vaudieu, who along with his brother Julien, had always admired the potential of Lirac in the Southern Rhône. Hence, when the owner of the 25-hectare Moulin des Chênes vineyard retired, the brothers jumped at the chance to take over the estate.
Lirac lies across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a viticultural heritage that is just as impressive. Conditions for these two areas are similar, with both having over 2,500 hours of sunlight per year and a dry growing season that ensures consistently ripe, flavoursome wines. Lirac also has stony soils, with ‘galets roulés’ pudding stones supported by red clay underneath. The main difference is the influence of the Mistral, which is slightly milder in Lirac.
The wine of Moulin des Chênes blends together Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Grenache. After fermentation in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks, it ages in underground concrete vats for 10 months before bottling. The resulting wine is soft and generous in body, full of primary fruit and freshness, with a long, mellow finish. Lirac has a more forward, earlier-drinking style and offers remarkable value compared to the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.