Domaine Milan, VDF “Le Vallon” 6 Bottle Case 75cl

Le Vallon Domaine Milan, Natural Wine, Organic Vineyards, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Milan the Magician! Le Vallon is pure Provence, aromas of Herbs de Provence, garrigue, mingle with soft ripe fruit and a mineral edge. Henri Milan makes delicious wines that need a little time in bottle to start to fully express themselves.

Yields are low at 45 hl/h. The grapes are harvested and put in vats without being de-stemmed for a short maceration. The fermentation takes place without any added yeasts, only the ones which are present on the grape skins. Also, the different grape varieties are blended together at the beginning and not at the end with fermented and aged juices like others winemakers would do. It is now drinking very well and has great balance and minerality to match the structure of the wine and flavour profile. Delicious wine for grilled meat and hearty earthy cheeses. In fact, it goes with everything, Milan is the Burgundy of Provence, hence the bottle shape, no more clearly expressed than in this wine.

Domaine Milan was created in 1956 by Robert Milan and taken over in 1986, by Henri, his son, who had planted his very first vine there at 8 years old. Henri introduced organic practices early on but 1996 marks a major change in direction after two conversations: one with Claude Bourguignon, the reputed soil specialist, who suggested that Henri make wines based on vineyard sites, and the other with Claude Courtois, from Les Cailloux du Paradis, whose advice helped Henri ascertain himself on the path of natural winemaking. From 2007, he flips the bird to the AOC system and starts bottling his whole production as Vin de France.