Jacques Coipel worked in the petrol industry until 2002 when he decided to change career paths and enter the wine business. He purchased an exceptional site in the Cotes du Rhone Village Cru of Valreas. His vineyards sit at around 1200 feet with a mix of clay, limestone and gravel making up the soils. With cooling winds from the north and at this higher altitude, there is a crispness to the wines showing more red fruit qualities in the reds and more vibrant apple tones in the whites. Around the same time Jacques's son, Julien, began studying winemaking working in Switzerland and New Zealand (with Te Mata, one of our favorites). Julien returned to Ste. Croix in 2010 and began working on the wine with his father. Julien's lighter but technical touch makes for wines that are great expressions of the Valreas terroir. This is Roussanne (sometimes a splash of Marsanne) from vines planted between 350-400 meters on calcareous rocky soils. All fermentation and aging is done in tank.