6. 6 x Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge - Les Terrasses, 2022 , Domaine Olivier Hillaire, Rhône, France

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge – Les Terrasses, 2022, Domaine Olivier Hillaire, Rhône, France
1 box (6 bottles) €351.00 (recommended retail price incl. VAT)
Decanter: 95 | Vivino: 4.3

Wine description:
A rustic bouquet with enticing 'rôtie' notes (roasted/meaty aromas) and stewed ripe red fruits. The tannins are mature and beautifully balanced with acidity and flavor, offering structure and elegance in equal measure.

Winery:
Hidden gems still exist if you know where to look — and Domaine Olivier Hillaire is one of them. Olivier began his winemaking journey at Domaine des Relagnes, the estate of his former father-in-law, Henri Boiron, which spanned 16 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. For over 20 years, he worked alongside renowned oenologist Philippe Cambie to build a strong reputation for the wines.

When Henri retired in 2006 and sold 80% of the estate, Olivier managed to acquire 8 hectares — the best plots — and launched his own label. Today, he owns 3 ha of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 5 ha of Côtes du Rhône. His wines are aged in an old apple warehouse in Sorgues, also used by esteemed producers like Henri Bonneau and André Brunel.

Olivier’s son Baptiste now plays an active role in the cellar — a welcome addition, as Olivier also runs the local bakery and a brasserie. In the vineyard, precision is everything: no herbicides or pesticides, green harvesting to reduce yields, and of course, only hand-harvesting. Nature leads, but Hillaire keeps a watchful eye.