We have been hearing good things about Château Unang in the Ventoux for a while, so when we were offered parcels of their top two wines, it seemed time to learn more about them.
In a remote location in the Nesque Valley and surrounded by forests, Château Unang dates back to the 9th century. Owned for centuries by the local bishops, a Scottish couple, James and Joanna King, purchased it in 2001. They have set about making this into one of the most exciting producers in the Ventoux. The estate takes its name from the 'les sables d'Unang', the sandy soil over limestone which predominates on the hillside vineyard.
At an elevation of 220-320m, the microclimate here is cooler than in many other parts of the region. Farming organically, the Kings make their red wines from a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Both blends, 'La Croix' is dominated by Grenache, whilst 'La Source' is led by Syrah. Both reds undergo a traditional fermentation, followed by ageing in 225L barriques and 600L 'demi-muids'.
RED | 2017 | 4 cases | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Gardy' | 75cl | £260 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Gardy' 2017 / 4 cases / 75cl £260 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"...Gorgeously spicy! Iridescent with spices. Massive, magnificent tannins that, for now, loom up over the wine like a roaring lion, but the palate has so much depth and breadth, so much triumphant, confident beauty, that I have no doubt all this needs is time for the elements to segue into each other. Dried, roses, black figs, pomegranate molasses, chocolate mint, sumac, baharat. This has complexity and challenge and powerful grace; tastes like Tschaïkowsky cross Nureyev. 2024-2034. 17.5 points." Jancisrobinson.com (TC) May 2021 |
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RED | 2018 | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Gardy' | 75cl | £280 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Gardy' 2018 / / 75cl £280 per case of 12 |
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RED | 2019 | 2 cases | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Croix' | 75cl | £185 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Croix' 2019 / 2 cases / 75cl £185 per case of 12 |
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RED | 2019 | 2 cases | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Source' | 75cl | £140 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Source' 2019 / 2 cases / 75cl £140 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"...Silky plums, mocha, kohl-smudge sleepy-late-night sweetness, seductively dark fruit. Mulberries crushed on wet rocks. Plum skins drenched in maple-syrup-sweet coffee. Thyme, pressed against the hot blue-velvet of late-summer night. It's a thrum of off-beat soft-snare rhythm bleeding into the cashmere caress of irises on a warm early-summer night. Breathe in this sweet-minor-key-of-a-folksong wine as deeply, as greedily, as if it were the last summer night on earth. 2022-2030. 17.5 points." Jancisrobinson.com (TC), Nov '22 |
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RED | 2020 | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Croix' | 75cl | £195 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Croix' 2020 / / 75cl £195 per case of 12 |
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RED | 2020 | Château Unang - Ventoux 'La Source' | 75cl | £150 per case of 12 | Château Unang Ventoux 'La Source' 2020 / / 75cl £150 per case of 12 |
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