Le Plateau is Julien’s largest parcel contributing to his Gigondas Réserve, Le Plateau and starting in 2019, Les Roches. Whereas Le Plateau cuvée features old-vine Mourvèdre from the exposed northwest-facing portion of this site, Les Roches is old-vine Syrah from the eastern edge of this vineyard site. These vines of Syrah are shaded for most of the day by the bordering forest and limestone peaks that form its southern border resulting in a wine that ripens unusually late (for Syrah in the Southern Rhône) and with yields averaging 12hl/ha. Just 200 cases are made in an average vintage.
