LVT 2011  r  10 ha domaine in S Ardeche. High octane; calm down, chaps

LVT  2014 r  This is the best domaine in the Côtes du Vivarais, one that ranks alongside plenty of good Côtes du Rhône Villages estates. The depth of the wines is aided by the maturity of the vineyards, with many vines dating back to the 1970s, and some Grenache from the 1930s. The senior wines such as la Syrare are expensive. It has been worked organically since 1979.

LVT 2018 r 2018 wh 2018 rosé A 10 hectare domaine that officially converted to organic in March 2018. Son Sébastien, who works on both vineyard and cellar, is the seventh generation, having started on the domaine in 2011. In past times, it was a mixed farm typical of the Ardèche and its valleys – goats, goat cheese, animals, peaches, almond trees. Father Bernard developed bottling and their sales from the 1980s.

They make Côtes du Vivarais [under the title Le Mas de Jean] in the three colours, and IGP Coteaux de l’Ardèche [range called Pure, the Syrah much better than the Merlot]; since 2017 there has been a zero added SO2 trio of wines, a white and two reds, one Carignan, the other half Grenache, half Syrah. This range is called Nature Sauvage, and doesn’t stand scrutiny alongside the movers and shakers of Vin Nature elsewhere in the Ardèche.

Quality is fair, not arresting. There is no export, sales being mostly in the region.

LVT  2012  rosé  200 Co-operateurs with vineyards in three communes – Orgac, Saint-Remèze & Bourg Saint-Andéol. Production of Côtes du Vivarais, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

LVT 2015 r  2015  wh 2012  rosé  Long-time sound Co-operative, but enormous spread of wines can mean loss of focus. Vivarais Réserve is good. Very good value 2011 Syrah IGP Ardèche, and 2015 Grenache blanc Sauvignon IGP white. The Côtes du Rhône Mithra and Montjau reds are reliable, both *** in 2015