Balazu des Vaussieres

The History of Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres

Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres was founded by Christian Charmasson. Balazu - which means baladin in old Provencal - was the nickname of Christian's grandfather, known for his talent as a storyteller. The address of the farm is chemin de la Vaussière, which explains the second part of the domain's name.

Christian Charmasson manages the estate with his wife Nadia. The couple distinguishes itself by its method of making wine, with a particularly long three-year aging in vats.

The vineyard of Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres

Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres is located near Nîmes, in the southern part of the Rhone Valley. The vineyard extends over 5 hectares, on the communes of Tavel and Lirac. It has a beautiful diversity of terroirs with four different types of soil:

- Soil predominantly limestone, covered with flat limestone stones on islands of clay, called lauzes ;
- soil of rolled pebbles on a clay subsoil ;
- deep plain soil, not very stony and well drained ;
- dry and light sandy soil. The Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres is conducted in biodynamic farming, which implies natural practices, with less interventions: respect for the lunar calendar, grassed soils, natural mixtures based on horn silica to nourish and strengthen their vines, without going through chemical inputs, no use of sulfur, nor copper sulfate.

The grape variety of Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres is composed of 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Clairette, 5% Carignan and 5% Syrah for the wine belonging to the AOC Tavel which corresponds only to rosé wine.

For the production of white wine and red wine, other grape varieties complete the blends: Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne and Bourboulenc.

The wines of Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres

Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres - Rosé belonging to the Tavel appellation

The rosé wine from Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres, AOC Tavel, sports a light pink color, bright and pure when young. If you keep it beyond a year, it takes on pale gold highlights, then continues to evolve into copper and amber tones.

The nose offers a broad aromatic palette, composed of floral notes, small red fruits and stone fruits, sometimes accompanied by some notes of fresh almonds. After a year of cellaring, the ripe fruit becomes more noticeable, underlined by notes of roasted almonds and spices.

The palate is full of stone fruit, almonds, spice and toast. Its roundness makes it smooth and its fruity notes remain through its long finish.

Domaine Balazu des Vaussieres - White belonging to the Lirac appellation

The white wine from the Lirac appellation has a pale yellow color with green reflections. Its nose mixes the aromas of peach, citrus and white flowers. Its mouth is unctuous, frank of attack, abounding in fruity and floral notes of great finesse and which prolong in finale.