House Revol
left24pcs
Languedoc, France
Languedoc-Roussillon, which stretches from the southwest to the south of France, bordering Spain from the outskirts of Montpellier, is the region that boasts the largest wine production in France, with its climate being ideal for grape cultivation, with its sunshine, dry air in the summer and humid winter .
Languedoc means "Occitan language (Langue d'Oc)" and is a general term for the area where the Occitan language, one of the Romance languages, was once spoken. "Brau", which is also used in the name of the Domaine of the Revol family, producers in the Languedoc region of Mavi, means "bull" in Occitan.
A famous place in this region is Carcassonne. The fortified city of La Cite built in Roman times is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the second most popular tourist city in France after Mont Saint-Michel. Walking through the narrow, intricate alleys of La Cite, typical of a fortified city, makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Middle Ages.
In the past, inexpensive table wine was the norm here, but in recent years , up-and-coming winemakers have been drawn to the region's free-flowing winemaking environment, which is not found in Bordeaux or Burgundy, and are pursuing their own ideals by creating wines of their own making .
The Revol family's domain and vineyards
Carcassonne is a fortified city on the banks of the Aude River in the Languedoc region of southern France, and is a World Heritage Site . From Mr. Revol's vineyard and winery "Brau," you can see the fortified city of Carcassonne and the beautiful mountain range of the Pyrenees.
Geographically, the area is in the Mediterranean region, but is also influenced by the Atlantic coastal climate, meaning that Revol's vineyards are able to grow grape varieties from both southern France and Bordeaux.
Organic history : Fields since 1989
Many Mavi customers may be familiar with the sound of "Blow."
The Thali family, who have been involved with Mavie since its founding, have been cultivating grapes and making organic wine at the Domaine de Thali farm. However, when Thali and his wife retired, they decided to sell the Domaine de Thali. It was Mr. Revol who bought the farm and winery and took over the Domaine.
The previous owner of the vineyard, Tali, was a pioneer among pioneers who started organic farming in the 1980s . In the late 1990s, he purchased the forests and rivers surrounding the vineyard, and the entire farm is now protected from the elements.
Revol is working on natural farming, which goes beyond the organic farming that Tali practiced, and is ultimately working to improve the soil with the aim of biodynamic farming.
In winemaking, we are also experimenting with the development of our Nature series, which does not use the preservative SO2 (sulfur dioxide) .
・White grapes : Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier
・Black grapes : Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Syrah, Ferservadou
Field soil
Although Breau is geographically in the Mediterranean region, it is also influenced by the Atlantic coastal climate, allowing it to grow grape varieties from both the south of France and Bordeaux .
Characteristics of cultivation methods, etc.
Revol is aiming to go beyond the organic farming that Tali practiced and adopt natural farming methods. Tali used to till his fields with a tractor, but Revol plans to eventually move to a no-till method, where he simply covers the fields with weeds .
Currently, the fields alternate between plowed and weeded furrows, but they plan to eventually leave all the furrows untouched and covered with weeds. According to Revol, this method helps retain moisture in the ground, which is more advantageous than plowing the soil and exposing it to lose moisture, as temperatures rise every year due to global warming.
Ultimately, we are working on improving the soil with the aim of using biodynamic farming methods.
Characteristics of brewing method
When it comes to brewing, we do not follow Tali's style, but instead avoid using barrels as much as possible, aiming to bring out the natural flavor of the grapes.
There are three main characteristics of Revol's winemaking.
1. Bringing out the natural fruitiness of the grapes without using barrels
The biggest difference between Tali and Revol's brewing styles is that they don't use barrels.
Revol doesn't use barrels to brew his wine so that the natural flavor of the grapes isn't masked by the barrel aroma. This allows you to enjoy the fruity flavor of the grapes as it is.
Only AOC Cabardés is required by regulation to use barrels, so they use old barrels which have a weaker oak aroma.
2. Crisp flavor achieved through low-temperature brewing and strict temperature control
We take measures such as fermenting grapes harvested during the coolness of the night at low temperatures, strictly controlling the temperature at every stage of the fermentation process, and bottling the finished wine immediately to prevent any off-flavors from developing.
In southern France, where harvest temperatures are higher than in Burgundy and other regions, it has been considered difficult to achieve a crisp flavor.
However, in recent years, advances in state-of-the-art equipment and technology have made it possible to carry out delicate and thorough temperature control, making it possible to produce wine that brings out the fruity flavor of southern French grapes even more.
3. The Nature Series uses indigenous yeast and contains no added sulfur dioxide
Wanting to create wines that are closer to nature, Revol created the "Nature Series," which is brewed using indigenous yeasts and finished without clarification or the addition of sulfur dioxide.
We strictly control the temperature to ensure it is optimal for the type of grapes and the stage of wine brewing, and we analyze the wine every day to check its condition and make immediate adjustments.This has eliminated the dull taste and unpleasant odor caused by bacterial growth that are common in natural wines, resulting in a clean, clear aroma and taste without any impurities.
From the producers to everyone in Japan
I took over the vineyards in Brau, where a wide variety of grape varieties are grown, in order to create the wine of my dreams.
Although there were many difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current global situation, they have continued to take on new challenges, moving forward step by step with a stoic attitude. Recently, they built a container house in a vineyard and started agrotourism.
My wines have a fruity, crisp taste with a hint of acidity that makes the most of the grape aroma. They go well with Japanese and ethnic cuisine, so I hope you enjoy them.
