Alexandre Favier, Domaine Chante Cigale:
A Family Tradition in the Heart of the Vineyards of
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Domaine Chante Cigale has built its reputation on its high-quality red and white wines, signed by Alexandre Favier. Coming from a long line of winemakers, Alexandre tells us more about the estate and the appellation.

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vignoble de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône

Châteauneuf-du-Pape and view of the Rhône river

Photo credits: ©Sophie Ducharme

DOMAINE CHANTE CIGALE, IN THE IMAGE OF CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

Chante Cigale, whose name inspires the warm summers of Provence, is a 52-hectare estate whose parcels are located in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. While the vast majority of the estate's wines are produced in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, other wines are produced in the Méditerranée IGP. A few hectares are also located in Travaillan, a commune in the Vaucluse not far from the town of Orange, where old vines flourish to produce Vins de France.

It was Paul Jourdan, when he was at the head of the family business in the first half of the 20th century, who christened the estate 'Chante Cigale' (Singing Cicada). The estate has remained in the capable hands of successive generations and it is now Alexandre Favier who has been working the estate in total independence since 1999.

❝ We have been winemakers in the family for so long, I can't even say how long! ❞

So exclaims Alexandre Favier, when he speaks of his grandmother Jourdan, then of his family Sabon, another well-known name in the region, who have been cultivating and working the vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a very long time.

Old vines and the richness of terroir

The grape varieties used for the reds are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, while the whites are made from Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul and Roussanne. The very first vines were planted on the estate at the end of the 19th century, and Chante Cigale stands out for the large number of old vines, the vast majority of which are a hundred years old!

On about forty hectares, the vines are approaching a century in age while the others are 80 years old. One of the emblematic cuvées of the estate is made up of 105 year old Mourvèdres! If these historic vines bring concentration and distinction to the wines, the richness of the terroirs, made up of rolled pebbles, sand and plots of land resulting from a mixture of these two soils, also confer power and elegance to the wines of Alexandre Favier.

Alexandre Favier, domaine Chante Cigale

Alexandre Favier, winemaker of Domaine Chante Cigale in Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Photo credit: ©Sophie Ducharme

CONVERSION TO ORGANIC: A LOGICAL AND OBVIOUS STEP!

Although the 2021 vintage is the very first to be certified as organic, the plots have always been cultivated with a minimum intervention approach, explains Alexandre Favier:

❝ My father did not use any chemicals or weed killers. He was already working the plots according to biodynamic principles.❞

In keeping with the philosophy of his predecessors, Alexandre Favier finally took the step of certified organic farming. Why didn't he claim the organic label before? The transition to organic or even biodynamic agriculture is always a challenge for winegrowers, especially in difficult years. For Alexandre Favier, although his work has always been that of a committed and environmentally friendly viticulture, not claiming the label allowed him to protect himself against complicated vintages, such as 2014 and 2008, to name but two. Confident for the future, Alexandre is serene about his official switch to organic farming. And he naturally states:

❝ It's the logical next step.❞

With increasing demand for organic products both in France and internationally, organic certification is also a way of meeting the needs and demands of consumers who are increasingly conscious of protecting the environment and their health. In the whole of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, the number of estates in organic farming or in conversion reaches almost 40% of the total.

cuves ovoïdales pour vinification domaine Chante Cigale

In the cellars, ovoid concrete vats for the vinification of white wines

Photo credit: ©Sophie Ducharme

HOUSE STYLE

In order to meet consumer demand, Alexandre Favier seeks to create a wine that is accessible, with minerality and freshness being the dominant characteristics. Complexity is not necessarily sought after, the richness must remain under control, in order to correspond to a demand for wines that are increasingly ready to drink and focused on freshness.

Balance is the key characteristic of both red and white wines at Domaine Chante Cigale. The grape varieties from each different plot are all vinified separately in order to respect the characteristics and terroirs of each of them. The blends are proportional, often in thirds, which is a real trademark of the estate.

Vinification & ageing

At Domaine Chante Cigale, the vinification is carried out firstly in concrete vats and stainless steel vats, and then with 100% concrete egg-shaped vats for the white wines. This particular egg shape allows for the total consumption of the lees, thus contributing to a less alcoholic, more mineral wine with more body. An airy side characterised by great freshness is also obtained. The tuns and demi-muids are renewed every 4 to 5 years. For the entire range, between 15 and 20% of the cuvées are aged in oak.

Dare to try white wine!

Although the white wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape represent only about 5% of the appellation, they are increasingly sought after! The appellation is known for its red wines, which have an international reputation. However, the white wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are real little jewels that are just waiting to be discovered and tasted!

Chante Cigale has understood this demand and stands out in particular for its sublime white cuvées whose bouquet is marked by exquisite aromas of exotic fruits. This is a way for Alexandre Favier to stand out in the AOC, since he offers white wines at competitive prices, more affordable than the reds, which are rather rare in Châteauneuf-du-Pape! A well thought-out positioning that works, says Alexandre Favier.

❝ More and more white varieties are being planted to meet the demand.❞

AOC Châteauneuf du Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards and the Rhône river in the background as seen from the château

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change, and in particular global warming, represents a real challenge for viticulture and Châteauneuf-du-Pape is no exception. It is getting hotter and hotter means more sugar and therefore higher alcohol levels. In some vintages, 2019 for example, it was over 40 degrees for a whole month. The droughts are accumulating and the winegrowers have no choice but to adapt their work to this reality.

In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, certain key grape varieties are known to reach particularly high alcoholic degrees. This is the case for the white grape variety Roussanne as well as for Grenache, the emblematic grape variety of the appellation. Alexandre Favier explains that the harvest is done earlier and earlier, in order to avoid too high alcohol content.

❝ The harvest starts earlier, around 6.30 am and ends around 11.30 am, in order to preserve the maximum freshness of the fruit.❞

13 authorised grape varieties, for greater flexibility

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC authorises 13 grape varieties, some of which are more popular than others. 13 grape varieties is a freedom for the winegrowers. If Roussanne and Grenache are slowly decreasing in the vineyard because of their very high alcoholic degree, other indigenous grape varieties, less popular, are attracting the attention of the wine growers. The white variety Picpoul, although less aromatic and often used as a complementary variety in a blend, brings a lot of freshness and thus responds to the needs not only of consumers but also of changing climatic conditions. This is also the case for Mourvèdre and Cinsault, late ripening black grape varieties which are increasingly planted as they are well adapted to global warming. However, the transition is long and winegrowers are approaching it with caution. Although you can legally produce Châteauneuf-du-Pape from three year old vines, it takes 25 years to obtain quality grapes and around 40 years for an ideal balance between production and quality! The question of grape varieties is therefore not taken lightly by the winegrowers of the AOC who aim for an irreproachable result.

Vinification

The work in the cellar is also adapted to the climatic conditions. Alexandre Favier explains that the wines undergo less and less manipulation, in order to preserve the maximum freshness of the fruit.

❝ Less pigeage and reduced maceration time to obtain less tannic, less rustic and fresher wines!❞

At Chante Cigale, the doses of sulphur are increasingly reduced, in order to respond to a logic of less intervention and to limit inputs.

The work of the vine and the wine is evolving. With its thirteen authorised grape varieties and the desire of the winegrowers to respond to the needs of enlightened consumers, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC will undoubtedly be able to guide the other appellations of the Southern Rhône in adapting to climate change.