Château de Montfaucon

Château de Montfaucon lies in Lirac, across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône valley. Wine has been made at the estate since the Roman era, and its impressive château was built in the 11th century. Winemaker and head of the family at the domaine, Rodolphe de Pins has worked tirelessly to rejuvenate the name of the domaine, which in turn has done wonders for Lirac as well. He took over in 1995, continuing a legacy started by his great great uncle Baron Louis who bought the estate in 1880. Rodolphe’s wine credentials are impeccable. He trained at Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and at Henschke in Australia before returning to his family holdings. Alongside his expert knowledge, he works with 90 hectares spread across a diverse range of soils and aspects, with many old vines at his disposal, including an impressive parcel of 150-year-old Clairette. His flagship wine, Baron Louis, is a testament to Rodolphe’s efforts to preserve local traditions and rare grape varieties by blending classic Grenache with Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Carignan.