Rhone, France  

As a master of elevage committed to a non-interventionist philosophy of winemaking, Patrick Lesec seeks to minimize the handling and processing of wine to preserve as much as possible the freshness, purity and complexity of the fruit inherent in the raw material. In a sense, these new techniques are a throw back to a time before many of the chemicals and technologies of modern winemaking were developed, while at the same time they represent refinements in the use of some of the new methodologies particularly with regard to barrel aging and bottling. These new techniques are most appropriate in small cellars where the eleveur can treat each barrel or tank individually.

The goal is to produce natural wines which truly express the specific character or typicity of the grape variety and the unique qualities of the terroir. In a real sense, the emphasis on purity of fruit allows the specificity of the soil to shine through more clearly. Patrick Lesec's wines taste like their appellations. This is not an exercise in the production of vapid, international style varietal wines, but rather homage to the concept of terroir in the French style.

Patrick Lesec wines typically are alive in the glass with bright and well-defined fruit aromas. On the palate, his wines exhibit clean, pure and ripe fruit characters. Oak is used as a tool to enhance the texture and richness of the wines, where appropriate, in a seamless way, and should not obtrude or overpower the fruit. Tannins are round and smooth, and the wines finish clean and dry with plenty of elegance and fruit.

Wines:

Patrick Lesec Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes
Patrick Lesec Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Richette
Patrick Lesec Petite Crau
Patrick Lesec Gigondas Les Espalines
Patrick Lesec Cotes du Rhone Bouquet
Patrick Lesec Costieres de Nimes
Patrick Lesec Costieres de Nimes V V
Patrick Lesec Chateauneuf du Pape Rubis
Patrick Lesec Chateauneuf du Pape Les Pierres Dorees
Patrick Lesec Chateauneuf du Pape Bargeton