Eloi Dürrbach is without doubt one of the greatest wine-makers of his time. The greatest, if you consult the poll carried out by the weekly magazine "Le Point" taking the opinion of a knowledgeable jury which had the delicate task of naming "the vintner of the century".
A GOOD EARTH
If at Trévallon the enfant terrible of the Baux Valley chose to stray from the paths of the appellation, he came to Estoublon with one sole desire: make the vines speak, give the earth time to express the wine.
So, if the project of replanting for the reds follows the rules established by the A.O.C, on the white parcels, Eloi and Rémy chose to play the Marsanne and Roussane card, two grape varieties that are not presently recognized by the AOC but perfectly express the particular earth of the Southern Alpilles. Wine stewards or œnologists, everyone who has visited the estate since three years ago agrees on one point: there is a good earth at Estoublon.
WORKING THE SOIL
It was a matter then of compelling the vine to find its way, to work the soil and the subsoil in order to help the roots go draw the nutrition (the substance) of the plant from the depths of the soil.
Because as everyone knows, its not from the upper layers of the soil that one extracts a wine's specificity.
For 3 years now, Estoublon lives to the rhythm of great undertakings, having in hand the construction of a new cellar, the conversion of the estate to organic farming , restructuring of the soil and the planting of new vines.
An intense effort which allowed for the birth of two wines from the hands of Rémy Reboul and Eloi Dürrbach, wines that remind us that a great wine-maker can and does work miracles.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
The wines henceforth come under the Ecocert label, which certifies the validity of organic growing methods, keeping in mind that at Estoublon it's a question of a philosophy, of a state of mind and not a marketing strategy.
During the last grape harvest, the new vines having reached the four-leaf stage, were able to be picked (mourvèdre, syrah and cabernet)... The 2002 vintage has turned an important page in the history of the estate with the making of a wine that the earth of Estoublon inspired in the two wine-makers. Monsieur Dürrbach's lesson has borne its fruit. The land has kept its promise.
