{"id":4597,"date":"2017-10-26T15:09:16","date_gmt":"2017-10-26T15:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/?post_type=project&p=4597"},"modified":"2025-09-02T11:21:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T11:21:06","slug":"domaine-dumien-serrette","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/project\/domaine-dumien-serrette\/","title":{"rendered":"Domaine Dumien-Serrette"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Domaine Dumien-Serrette” subhead=”Cornas | Northern Rh\u00f4ne” text_orientation=”center” content_max_width=”none” admin_label=”Fullwidth Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font_size=”50″ content_font_size=”25″ subhead_font_size=”25″ background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/cover_dentelles.jpg” subhead_font_size_tablet=”20″ subhead_font_size_phone=”” subhead_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” background_url=”https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/cover_dentelles.jpg” button_one_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#fcf4de” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|2% ||2% ” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”USP” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”|2%||2%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A bird\u2019s eye view of \u2018Patou,\u2019 like so many northern Rhone plots, reveals a miniscule vineyard, more akin to a postage stamp. Blink, and you might miss it.<\/p>\n

But such is the story of Syrah on these steeply graded, granite slopes: generations-old families cherished the few ancient vines they had, usually selling their precious crop to the larger producers\u2014Delas, Jaboulet, Chapoutier\u2014upriver.<\/p>\n

Winemaker Nicholas Serrette\u2019s father, Gilbert, did just that for years, until in the early 1980s they decided it was long time to try crafting a Cornas that best reflected both their soils and their family\u2019s centuries of toil. (The Dumien family has lived and worked in Cornas since 1515.)<\/p>\n

Just one taste of \u2018Patou\u2019 is proof that the family\u2019s decision was sound. This is true Cornas, deeply colored, structured, profound; delicious young yet more than cellar-worthy.<\/p>\n

Knocking on the family\u2019s weather-beaten cellar door, steps from the village center, reveals a practice that has not changed with time. Nicolas treads his organically raised grapes by foot, and presses them in an old-fashioned basket press\u2014tradition is alive and well at Dumien-Serrette<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d46d32″ border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#d46d32″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

FARMING & WINEMAKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Celtic, Cornas means \u201cburnt earth,\u201d which tells you volumes about the dry, warm conditions on these steeply graded stopes. Soils are primarily granite; vineyards are small and challenging to cultivate, given the abrupt drops and eroded faces of many of Cornas\u2019 hillsides.<\/p>\n

Nicolas farms according to organic principles, but the estate is not certified. Grapes are harvested by hand, and tread by foot in cement tanks. Fermentation happens on indigenous yeasts. The marc is pressed in an old-fashioned, hand-cranked basket press. Wine is aged in older French oak barrels, and is lightly fined before bottling.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”WHITE WINES” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

WHITE WINES<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Saint-P\u00e9ray ‘Grand Gachet'” admin_label=”Saint-P\u00e9ray ‘Grand Gachet'” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A new project for the Serrette clan, in one of the northern Rh\u00f4ne’s more historic viticultural sites. Saint-P\u00e9ray is just a hop-skip south of Cornas, but might as well be a world away; dedicated completely to white grapes, the appellation is experiencing a reawakening as local producers discover the racy energy and thrill of Marsanne from these steep slopes. The family planted vines in 2017 in ‘Grand Gachet,’ a ridiculously steep incline south of the village, completely surrounded by forest. Marsanne here is both bold and bright, with melon aromas laced with lemon and a thirst-quenching finish.<\/p>\n

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