Domaine de l’Amandier, Saint Julien en Saint Alban
Economics didn’t really appeal to Martin Texier. So after studying it for five years at university he decided to change path and spend time discovering the wine and music world in Europe and New York instead. Martin settled down in the Ouvèze Valley, Northern Rhône in 2014, with his own wine project.
In this area you’ll find clay, limestone, schist, gneiss and granit soils, which makes it suitable for growing both Grenache, Syrah and some various white varieties. Martin aims to develop the vineyards of the valley by replanting traditional varieties and maintain ancient, natural winemaking methods.
Today he reigns over five hectares in the area of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, where his more famous father, (in the world of wine) Eric Texier has his vineyards too. We are really happy to be working with this guy and we have been since he began making wine in 2015. The future looks bright. Since 2017 he also manages his father’s five hectares of vineyards, which helps him pay the bills and enables Eric to have a more relaxed life in the later stage of adulthood.
Martin makes pure, fruit driven and elegant reds, and some fresh and fruity Petnat from his two hectare of white Chasselas and Muscat.
2021 ACT Petite Nature
Soil: Argilo calcaire, quartz and gneiss on top of granite rock
Grape: 50% Pink & white Chasselas, 50% Muscat du Hambourg
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: Planted 2002
Vinification: Direct press and then nearly the whole fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks. Bottled in the end of November 2021 with some sugar left to create fine bubbles.
2021 Brézème Blanc
Soil: Rocky soil with limestone from various parts of Brezeme
Grape: Roussanne
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1952-2012
Vinification: Direct press then fermented and aged in old barrels. Bottled in April 2022.
2021 Rouvière Blanc
Soil: Clay, limestone and quartz on top of granite rock.
Grape: 60% Clairette 40% Rousanne
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1976-2011
Vinification: Direct press and ageing on glass fiber tanks and old barriques. Bottled in April 2022.
2019 Rousanne
Soil: Rocky soil with limestone from various parts of Brézème
Grape: Roussanne
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 2012
Vinification: Direct press and fermented and aged on concrete tanks and bottled in May 2020.
2017 Côtes du Rhône
Soil: Clay, limestone, gneiss and schist.
Grape: Grenache
Appellation: Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1984
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation with minimal extraction. Maceration for 2 weeks with the skins and then gently pressed and moved to concrete tanks where it rested over the winter. Bottled in March 2018.
2020 Grenache
Soil: Argilo calcaire and quartz on top of granite rock
Grape: Grenache
Appellation: Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1985
Vinification: Whole bunch fermentation with minimal extraction in open vats. Maceration for 1 week with the skins and then gently pressed and moved to concrete tanks where it rested over the winter. Bottled in March 2021.
2018 Cinsault
Soil: Clay, limestone, gneiss and schist.
Grape: Cinsault
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: Planted 1955
Vinification: 50% whole bunch and 50% destemmed and fermented for one week with minimal extraction. The wine was then gently pressed and moved to concrete tanks where it rested over the winter. Bottled in March 2019.
2017 Brézème
Soil: Rocky soil with clay, limestone and pebbles
Grape: Syrah
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1984
Vinification: 50% whole bunch maceration carbonic and 50% destemmed. After 4 days some careful crushing by feet and then 3 more days of maceration with a bit of pigéage before gently pressing. The wine was then moved to concrete tanks for continuous fermentation and ageing. Bottled in June 2018.
2017 Brézème Reserve
Soil: Rocky soil with clay, limestone and pebbles
Grape: Syrah
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1984
Vinification: 50% whole bunch maceration carbonic and 50% destemmed. After 4 days some careful crushing by feet and then 3 more days of maceration with a bit of pigéage before gently pressing. The wine was then moved to old oak barrels for continuous fermentation and ageing. Bottled in April 2019.
2018, 2019, 2020 Brézème Rouge
Soil: Rocky soil with clay, limestone and pebbles
Grape: Syrah
Appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône
Age of Vines: Planted 1984
Vinification: 35% whole bunch maceration carbonic and 65% destemmed. After 4 days some careful crushing by feet and then 3 more days of maceration with a bit of pigéage before gently pressing. The wine was then moved to old oak barrels for continuous fermentation and ageing. Bottled in December the year following harvest.
2021 ACT Preyna
Soil: Clay, limestone, gneiss, schist, quartz & granite rock
Grape: 50% Cinsault 50% Grenache
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: Cinsault planted in 1955, Grenache in 1985
Vinification: The Cinsault is macerated one week with whole bunches, the Grenache one week 100% destemmed with minimal extraction. The wine was then gently pressed and moved to concrete tanks where it rested over the winter. Bottled in March the year following the harvest.
2020 ACT Preyna
Soil: Clay, limestone, gneiss, schist, quartz & granite rock
Grape: 75% Cinsault 25% Grenache
Appellation: Vin de France
Age of Vines: Cinsault planted in 1955, Grenache in 1985
Vinification: The Cinsault is macerated one week with whole bunches, the Grenache one week 100% destemmed with minimal extraction. The wine was then gently pressed and moved to concrete tanks where it rested over the winter. Bottled in March the year following the harvest.
Extras: ACT, with the act wines we want to encourage people to act for an equal world without discrimination & injustice. 2% of all the sales goes directly to different organisations working for human rights.
Have a look at our ACT-section on the menu above to read more!