The Domaine Lefebvre d’Anselme vineyard is located about 30 kilometers north of Avignon and 20 minutes west of Châteauneuf. It has existed for several generations, but has only been run by the Lefebvre d’Anselme family for two generations. Before that, it was managed by tenant farmers.
Grandfather Bernard Lefebvre was the family's first true winemaker and passed on his passion for wine and winemaking to his son Louis, who – as might be expected – fell in love with the wine-loving Béatrice d’Anselme, with whom he would go on to run the Domaine Lefebvre d’Anselme.
And the next generation is already ready: their youngest son Marin shares his parents' passion and is determined to join the family business soon. He is currently completing an internship with us and enriching the team with his profound knowledge of wine, especially of course on the subject of the Côtes du Rhône, his home region.
"For me, wine is a very noble product that is full of life. It is a product of nature and the result of human work. What one must never forget is that man does not control nature. Rather, he cooperates with the soil, climate, and vines. The wine that results from this cooperation expresses the winemaker's relationship with his vineyard. The winemaker does not create the wine – he processes what nature gives him and transforms it into wine. To be able to harvest healthy, juicy, and aromatic grapes, the winemaker must observe nature very closely and try to understand it. This is much more important and correct than using artificial additives. A winemaker who works with the help of many artificial aids degrades himself to a chemist. At the same time, the profession of a winemaker is incredibly fascinating: it is very versatile and requires a high degree of adaptability, patience, and attention – not only in the vineyard, but also in all the subsequent steps of vinification and aging. It is no wonder that my parents often speak of their wines as if they were their children!"
The result of the attentive, patient, and loving work of the Lefebvre d’Anselme family convinced us so much that we added their two cuvées “Carpe Diem” and “Trilogy” to our program, two wines that are best enjoyed in the company of loved ones at a good meal. That is exactly what Marin says too:
“When we eat together, social relationships and bonds are formed. Our relationship with one another can only be improved and strengthened by a shared meal. And that includes a good wine."
At Lefebvre d’Anselme, respect for the land and the wine is paramount. That is why the use of pesticides is largely avoided. The grass and weeds between the vineyards are removed once a year by goats and sheep, which also fertilize the soil with natural manure. The harvest is mostly done by hand. This allows – if necessary – for a preliminary selection to take place already during the harvest.
In red wine production, the grapes remain completely intact until the barrel is filled, until they are subjected to carbon maceration, which gives the wines their pronounced fruit character. The fermentation of all the Domaine's wines is generally carried out without the addition of yeast. The aging takes place in concrete tanks, and the bottling is done without filtration and with only light sulfuring. This can result in sediment settling at the bottom of the bottle.
The white wines are made by direct pressing, and the rosé wines by the saignée method. The aging takes place in tanks. After filtration, bottling follows in the spring with the addition of a small amount of sulfur. This preserves their clear color and freshness.
We want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have this aspiring young winemaker and representative of the Domaine in our house, and therefore cordially invite you to join us on Thursday, March 3, 2016, for a small, unscheduled tasting of the cuvées "Carpe Diem" and "Trilogy". Marin will pour his wines, tell us a few things about them, and will surely give us a few tips on which foods, especially which cheeses, pair well with the wines. A delightful afternoon awaits us!
What: Tasting of the cuvées "Carpe Diem" and "Trilogy" from Domaine Lefebvre d'Anselme (Côtes du Rhône)
When: on Thursday, March 3, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m., alongside regular sales
Where: Maître Philippe & Filles, Emser Str. 42, 10719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf
The tasting will take place in a very relaxed atmosphere alongside regular sales. As always, registration is not required; just drop by, we look forward to seeing you!
