The wines from the Rhone are elegant and powerful at the same time. Whilst the gerneric Coté Du Rhone wines are good, it is when they get into the village level that they get interesting. The story of Domaine les Hautes Cances is of a small family-run estate located in the village of Cairanne in the northern sector of the Cotes du Rhone, near the village of Gigondas. What makes Hautes Cances different is that the owners Jean-Marie Astart and his wife, Anne-Marie, were completely immersed in other professions, he, a psychiatrist and she, trained in the medical field, both without any winemaking experience whatsoever.
Another reason for the great quality of wines at Domaine les Hautes Cances is the age of their vines. These low yielding vines have an average age of 48 years, with several plots reaching the grand old age of 100. They can thank their grandfather for this critical vineyard resource that they now manage using organic principals.
This wine is not heavy or over-ripe. It is just the perfect glass of Rhone wine. I would have to say its sophistication is what sets it apart. It has it all – the rich, blackberry fruit with a roundness in the mouth and a fragrance which transports you right to the vineyard in the Rhone.