Who makes it
The Alary family settled in Cairanne in 1692 under André Alary. Ten successive generations managed the estate. Domaine Oratoire St Martin covers 25 hectares, all in Cairanne village. Organic farming began in the 1990s. The domaine converted to biodynamic viticulture in 2008 and has operated biodynamically since 2012.
The current range includes Réserve des Seigneurs, a Cairanne red, and Réserve des Seigneurs Blanc, a Cairanne white.
Where it grows
Most of the vineyards lie in northeastern Cairanne, at approximately 200 meters on steep hills in the localities of Saint Martin, Les Douyes and Coustias. Local speech calls this area “the mountain”. Altitude and slope affect vine growth: higher ground generally slows ripening and preserves acidity, while sloping land sheds water more readily.
Both current wines carry Cairanne as their appellation, linking the red and white bottles to the same hillside village.
What they make
The red Réserve des Seigneurs is the 2022 Cairanne wine in the range. It uses 40% Grenache Noir, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan and 5% Counoise. Grapes are sorted by hand in the vineyard and cellar, destemmed without crushing, and fermented with wild yeasts for 2 to 3 weeks. Carignan is fermented with whole clusters. The wine ages 9 to 12 months in vats and is bottled without fining or filtering.
The white Réserve des Seigneurs Blanc is the 2024 Cairanne wine, made from 30% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne and 10% Marsanne. The red shows red fruit and blonde tobacco, with smooth tannins and a spicy, peppery finish. Its drinking window is 2 to 6 years. The white brings white flowers and citrus, a delicate, crisp palate, minerality, and a refreshing finish of fruit with white flesh.