La Luminaille
| Vigneron | Julie Paolucci |
| Location | Rasteau (Vaucluse) |
| Size of Domaine | 12 ha |
| Terroir | Mediterranean climate, Mistral (northern wind) influence. Clay-limestone, blue and grey marls, galets roulés, limestone bedrock. Gentle slopes on terraces. 250m altitude. |
| Viticulture | Certified organic (Ecocert) |
| View La Luminaille wines ↓ |
The lieu-dit La Luminaille is a special place in local folklore, found behind the village of Rasteau, to the north of the appellation and surrounded by hills reaching 450m, it takes its name from the olive leaves’ extraordinary radiance during a full moon.
A contiguous 12ha domaine with a high concentration of old vines (Rasteau’s undeniable advantage over its neighbours), La Luminaille has some of the best terroirs in the AC, where deep sedimentary soils have plenty of CNDP style stones, fragments of calcaire from the Alps, and sit on precious water-retaining marls (blue and grey).
Julie Paolucci is the fifth generation at the domaine, she took the helm after her father’s sudden passing away. Starting in 2015, Julie assiduously ploughed the soils, applied organic principles aiming for natural balance among her vines. In doing so she naturally reduced yields to an average of 30hh (sometimes 15hh for very old vines) which positively impacted the quality of grapes and finished wines.
Before taking over the domaine, Julie used to work as a somm in top Parisian restaurants, her finely tuned palate produces balanced, clear cut wines with a mineral touch, and real 'digestibilité' helped by low levels of sulphur.
After only a handful of harvests she quickly displayed consequent and promising results, Julie has now become one of the leading lights of the appellation – no wonder the headstrong Jérôme Bressy (Gourt de Mautens) vouches for La Luminaille, the only name he is willing to drop when asked about like-minded vignerons in Rasteau.
La Luminaille Wines
CÔTES-DU-RHÔNE 2021
Luminaris
60% Clairette, 30% Marsanne, 10% Bourboulenc
60% Clairette, 30% Marsanne, 10% Bourboulenc (12% alc.)
One hectare of 30yo vines on clay-based terraces with 50% planted in the forest of Rasteau at 350-400m altitude where it is a little cooler and more humid. The whole bunches were slowly pressed for a little extra texture, and the finished wine was then cuve aged. The malos often don’t take place although they are not intentionally blocked. The wine has surprising freshness (low pH 3.3), low alcohol and a lovely density. Freshly sliced pear on the nose, a hint of provencal herbs on the palate and fine bitters on the finish.
RASTEAU 2020
Garance
60% Grenache, 40% Carignan
60% Grenache, 40% Carignan (14.5% alc.)
Garance is a natural dye, made from herbs found in the vines, that produces a deep red colour. Made from the oldest parcels of vines on the property, around 70yo, this wine was destalked 100%, vinified in amphora, then aged in cement (cutting out demi-muids previously used for ageing part of the wine). It has spicy black fruits on the nose with plums and even blood orange notes on the palate, Provencal herbs and a saline twist, all with a very digeste quality and fine-grained tannins. Unfined and lightly filtered with less than 40mg/l of total sulphur. For drinking now to 2030+.
RASTEAU VIN DOUX NATUREL 2021
Grenat
90% Grenache, 10% Carignan
90% Grenache, 10% Carignan (16% alc, 90g/l of rs)
A VDN much paler in colour compared to many of its peers, this is very delicately extracted and cuve-aged. 'Muté' or fortified when reaching 8% alc, it offers cherry/blackberry fruit with a hint of menthol and spice. Light on its feet with a digeste quality, this has very fine tannins and a savoury finish.