Domaine des Anges White "Archange"

100% Roussanne. The wine comes from a single block of 0,75 hectare planted 25 years ago. A complex nose of honey blossom, lemon zest and toasted bread. The full round palate has both citrus and floral flavours underlined by subtle spicy notes from the oak fermentation. The wine has a surprising length and complexity on the palate.

Domaine des Anges is situated on a hillside facing Mont Ventoux, “The Giant of Provence”, which rises to 1912m in altitude. The mountain has a profound influence on the climate of the vineyards with cool evening breezes refreshing the vines in summer after the day’s intense heat, and so enabling the vines to maintain high natural acids and elegant tannins.

 

Making the wine of angels
Sunday, March 09, 2008 - By Tomas Clancy

It is not just a winery run by Irish people learning the ropes, this is Irish winemaking genius, creating some of the world’s finest wines - just as David and Catherine O’Brien are doing at Chateau Vignelaure, Lochlann Quinn is doing at classed growth Chateau de Fieuzal and Kilkenny native David Fennell is doing at Margaux classed growth, Chateau duTertre.

Wines of Domaine des Anges

Domaine des Anges, Blanc L’Archange, Cotes de Ventoux 2006

For me, the star of Domaine des Anges, it makes only 750 cases a year as it is a single vineyard wine. Barrel-fermented Rousanne, letting the wine sit on its lees, and ageing in oak provides the kinds of kid-glove treatment you expect of a flashy and expensive Burgundy.

This is the wine that must have its neighbours wondering just what is going on at Domaine des Anges. Many other wines of Ventoux are really rather plain, rustic affairs treading water in the shadow of the Cotes du Rhone.

This wine shows that Rooney and McGuinness have their eyes on a larger stage. The 2006 is brought together superbly with toasty, creamy notes at the attack giving way to layers of spice, light oily lime tinges and restrained spice with a rising freshness and even minerality at the finish. At this price, the New World is giving us some very ordinary white wines.

Full article available at http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/03/09/story30982.asp

More comment from Tomas Clancy in March 2010

Domaine des Anges is owned by Kilkenny businessman Gay McGuinness and its general manager and winemaker is Dubliner Ciaran Rooney. He creates exotic and award winning wines from vineyards high up in the slopes of Provence's highest mountain, Mount Ventoux. His delicious white wine - the 100% Roussane Archange Blanc 2008 is a world beater. It is wonderful to taste in the heat, but could be an ideal antidote to the grey, rain dashed day that St. Patrick's Day in Ireland all too frequently is.

Domaine des Anges White Archange - 91 points

Domaine des Anges Red Archange - 89 points