At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Location
- Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron
- Appellations
- AOC Ventoux and AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
- Grapes in named wines
- Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and Viognier
- Exceptional vintage wine
- Perséides de Juvenal
- Farming
- Organic agriculture
The Producer
Château Juvenal is a family winery in Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, with approximately 50 hectares managed organically. The modern winery brings together the Forestier and Alban families, whose work joins the Forestier château with the Alban family's cultivation of Juvenal's terroir.
The estate makes wines from two appellation categories, with named bottles that include Les Garrigues, Les Ribes du Vallat and Perséides de Juvenal. Its farming follows organic agriculture across the holding.
Place
The estate's labels divide production between AOC Ventoux and AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. Château Juvenal is located at 1080 Route de Caromb in Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron.
An AOC name places a wine within a defined regional category. Here, the appellation distinguishes the Ventoux wines from the Muscat de Beaumes de Venise wines while keeping both under one estate name.
Story
In 2001, Bernard and Anne-Marie Forestier acquired Château Juvenal, a majestic residence more than 120 years old bordered by century old vines and olive trees. Before the modern winery was established, the Alban family had cultivated Juvenal's terroir.
In 2011, the Forestier and Alban families united to establish the Château Juvenal winery, bringing the Forestier acquisition and the Alban family's work on the land into one operation. The winery began as a union of two families and two strands of estate history.
Wines
Château Juvenal's named range includes Les Garrigues, Les Ribes du Vallat and Perséides de Juvenal, alongside AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise production. Les Garrigues is a Ventoux red.
Les Ribes du Vallat comes in white and red forms. The white is 80% Clairette and 20% Viognier. The red is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Perséides de Juvenal is produced only in exceptional vintages from the estate's two finest Grenache parcels, with an ageing window of 5 to 7 years.
A Bottle To Understand It
Open with Château Juvenal Les Garrigues 2024 when the aim is a fruit and spice led Ventoux red. It has a fruity, somewhat spicy palate with notes of cherry, violet, forest raspberry, liquorice and black pepper. The bottle keeps the first pour within the estate's Ventoux category, before comparing it with the white and red Les Ribes du Vallat or Perséides de Juvenal.
Final Word
Château Juvenal combines organic farming with a family partnership in Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron. Its named wines span Ventoux reds, white and red Les Ribes du Vallat, Perséides de Juvenal and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise production.
Sources
1. https://www.chateaujuvenalvins.com/ 2. https://aoc-ventoux.com/en/vigneron/chateau-juvenal-2/ 3. https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/france/rhone/chateau-juvenal-ventoux-les-ribes-du-vallat-rhone-2015-13115/ 4. https://www.chateaujuvenalvins.com/en/store/axaken-the-senses/ribes-du-vallat-rouge.html 5. https://www.chateaujuvenalvins.com/en/store/elevating-time/perseides.html 6. https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/247241/