Domaine du Banneret
Audrey Vidal
About
In the 1980’s Jean-Claude Vidal, architect and descendant of the Bertet family, took over Domaine du Banneret. The Domaine had been owned by a relative for some time, and there was concern in the Bertet family that it would be sold to an outsider. This was Jean-Claude’s opportunity to continue the legacy the Bertet family started nearly 600 years earlier, in 1405, of making complex wines with a sense of place.
Jean-Claude learned under one of the great Châteauneuf-du-Pape winemakers, the late Henri Bonneau. Bonneau helped Jean-Claude make the first vintages and even rented space to him until he was able to buy a cellar in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the vineyard, Jean Claude has been a champion of biodynamics since taking over in 1989. Today, his daughter Audrey runs the Domaine.
The red wine is a quintessential, old school Châteauneuf-du-Pape made in an elegant style. Depending on the vintage, production ranges from 400 cases to almost 1000 cases in the most abundant years. The base is 60% Grenache from the lieu-dit “Grand Pierre.” There is also 10% Syrah from the lieu-dit “Bois de Boursan,” 10% Mourvedre from close to the Rhone river, and the remaining 20% a mix of all permitted varieties from interplanted parcels in the village of Cheateuneuf-du-Pape.