Font de Michelle

Fontaine de Michelle is run today by the fourth generation, Bertrand and Guillaume Gonnet who took over in 2006. They honour their grandfather with Cuvée Etienne Gonnet, and Etienne (Bertrand's father) was instrumental in developing the estate, bringing together numerous small plots to make up the 30 ha that the family have to work with today. The vines are located in the Commune de Bédarrides, which is contiguous with Chateauneuf, near the south-eastern corner of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC, unofficially known as the quartier St Louis. The vineyards are on largely well drained clay - limestone soils, naturally covered by the galets roulés which are typical of the region; these are on largely south and southeast facing slopes, which run up to Le Crau, home to the Vieux Télégraphe vineyards. Indeed, Vieux Télégraphe is Font de Michelle's closest neighbour, and it comes as no surprise to learn that Daniel and Frederic Brunier, proprietors of Vieux Télégraphe, are cousins to Jean and Michel Gonnet.  The Wine Doctor