Joé Chandellier
Who: Joé Chandellier
Where: St. Côme à Maruéjols (Languedoc, Franc)
What grapes: Carignan, Aramon, Grenache, Syrah
Key fact: A young and passionate winemaker with 5.5 hectares in the Gard. Farmed organically with the careful attention of a man with the purpose to produce natural wines of character that taste of their terrior.
Instagram: @joechdllr
Joé Chandellier Alluvions
Viticulture: organic
Soil type: blue marl
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Viognier
Method of fermentation: The wine is aged on the lees in concrete, and bottled with 30ppm of free sulfur. It has a really nice palate feel. Mineral characteristics come through. The vines are planted in blue marl soils, in a site with southerly sun exposure.
Joé Chandellier “Rosé” Vin de Pays des Cévennes IGP
Viticulture: Organic / Natural / Vegan
Soil type: Sandstone, blue marl
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Carignan - from 55 year old bush vines grown in Souvignargues
Syrah - from from 24 year old vines grown in St. Côme à Maruéjols
Method of fermentation: Carignan : Direct press – fermented and aged in old barrels. Syrah : Direct press – aged in fiberglass tank
SO2 total : 15mg added after malolactic fermentation.
Joé Chandellier “Alluvions” Vin de Pays des Cévennes IGP
Viticulture: Organic / Natural / Vegan
Soil type: Alluvial soil, blue marl
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Equal parts Cinsault and Syrah, from 15-year-old vines.
Method of fermentation: 2024 Alluvions red was the first time Joé has filtered a wine, which I consider to be a victory for rational consideration over dogmatism. Safety first! I love an unfiltered wine, but I also love unspoiled wine, and Joé agrees. Spontaneously fermented, 13,000 bottles made. The wine has a touch of tannin on the finish but is otherwise quite accessible. “The idea is to be between rosé and red,” Joé said. He accomplished this goal. I’ll drink it lightly chilled, the wine is in every way a thirst-quencher. Aged entirely in concrete.
Joé Chandellier “Le Ribieral” Vin de Pays des Cévennes IGP
Viticulture: Organic / Natural / Vegan
Soil type: Sandy loam, sandstone
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Grenache - 23 year old vines from a single vineyard in St.Côme et Maruéjols
Method of fermentation: Crushed and destemmed. 10 days maceration. Aged in fiberglass tank.
SO2 total : 15mg/l added after malolactic fermentation.
Joé Chandellier “Trois Terres” Indication Géographique Protégée Cévennes
Viticulture: Organic / Natural / Vegan
Soil type: Alluvial soil, sandy loam, sandstone.
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and Aramon
Method of fermentation: The whole bunch fermentation lasts for 10 days. Trois Terres spent 10 months aging in concrete tanks and 600L barrels. Joé added 30ppm of sulphur prior to bottling.
Joé Chandellier “Nowy” vin de France
Viticulture: Organic / Natural / Vegan
Soil type: Alluvial soil. This one-off bottling is made from organic grapes purchased from a neighbor, because hail damaged Joé’s fruit
Elevation: 100m
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Alicante, and Carignan
Method of fermentation: The wine is fermented whole bunch for six days. Post fermentation it spends 7months aging in concrete, and 600L barrels. Joé adds 30ppm of sulphur prior to bottling.
Joé is a young winemaker, 2019 was his first solo vintage in France. Jay and I came upon him by luck while visiting with his mentor, natural winemaker guru, Alain Allier. He gave us the opportunity to taste his 2019 vintage from vat, and we stayed in touch during the pandemic. Joé is dedicated to the process of making wine with as little intervention as possible. Organically grown fruit, natural winemaking, and he has plans to convert to Biodynamics in the years to come.