Mikael Desestret has been working with his parents, Michel and Eliette, since he finished his oenological studies at Beaune in 1996. It was his arrival which prompted the family to start vinifying and bottling themselves. Previously his father has been selling everything in bulk to Delas Frères.

The vines have been in the hands of his mother‘s family for over a hundred years. Prior to that, legend has it that these vineyards once belonged to the monks of St. Jean de la Ste. Epine, a monastic community which revered a thorn taken from the crown of Christ and brought back from the Holy Land by the Crusaders.

Visiting this part of the Rhône valley, one can easily understand why they would want to establish their order here. The south/south-east facing coteaux are situated opposite the hill of Hermitage, and command a magnificent view over the confluence of the Rhône and the Doux. From an initial four hectares, Mikaël took over 2ha of Raymond Trollat‘s vines in 2002 and is hoping to expand to a respectable 10 / 12 hectares in the coming years.

Many of the vines, which are farmed using the lutte raisonnée technique, are over 100 years old. Where Mickaël has had to replant part of the coteaux, the wine produced from the young vines is sold off to a négociant until the new plantations reach at least 10 years of age.

Whilst the cellars have recently been enlarged and renovated, the winemaking remains traditional, part of the must being fermented in open cuves, with the cap being pushed down by foot. The wines are then raised in demi-muids – there is no new oak in the cellar. All of this with a view to producing wines which Mickaël hopes are a “true expression of their terroir.”