Domaine de L'Escattes

Domaine de l'Escattes nestles in the hollow of a small valley, in the heart of the Gard garrigue, in Calvisson, between Nîmes and Montpellier. Its name is said to come from the Latin 'escatarire', meaning to spring forth: the Romans had settled the site, where springs and underground flows create a microclimate cooler than that of the region. The vines are planted on the hillsides, on stony clay-limestone soil, in a very sunny location.

The Robelin family has run the estate since the late 1970s. François Robelin took over the estate in 2009 and turned it toward organic farming, which the estate states it has practiced since 2010. All the wines have been certified AB since 2013.

In the vineyards, the soil, particularly the vine rows, is worked mechanically (removing soil from the base of the vines, earthing up, inter-row cultivation) and grassed over depending on the season. A shepherd comes in to bring animal life back to the plots. Treatments are limited to copper and sulphur. In the cellar, the expertise lies in combining traditional methods with modern tools: the use of inputs is limited and fermentations are preferably carried out with indigenous yeasts. The estate has even welcomed around sixty people who came to discover organic grape growing, winemaking and old vintages in a family atmosphere.

The wines are produced under AOC Languedoc Sommières, AOC Languedoc and IGP Gard. The white Tradition blends 60% Grenache blanc, 30% Bourboulenc and 10% Viognier, from clay-limestone soils, with 35-year-old vines; the grape varieties are vinified separately and aged for six months on fine lees.

Les Roches Bleues, under IGP Gard, is a pure Chardonnay from 38-year-old vines planted on calcareous marl, aged for ten months in demi-muids on total lees: the Dussert-Gerber Guide 2023 awarded it five hearts. Other cuvées include a rosé and a red Les Parcelles, as well as a Picholine olive oil. The estate also takes part in events held by the Sommières winegrowers.