Chateau de Montfaucon 'Comtesse Madeleine' Lirac, Rhone, France

Château de Montfaucon's 2022 'Comtesse Madeleine' Lirac, Rhone, France brings a noble lineage to life with refreshing modernity. This elegant white captures the sun-drenched essence of the Rhône Valley, while delivering the layered complexity of a wine far above its price. With roots in a medieval estate and a winemaker trained in both Barossa and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this bottle strikes a compelling balance between richness and refinement.

Product Details:

• Winemaker & Owner: Rodolphe de Pins
• Grape Variety: Southern Rhone White Blend
• ABV: 13.5%
• Sugar: 1.0 g/L
• Acidity: 5.3 g/L
• Closure: Natural cork
• Certifications: Practicing sustainable agriculture

Sensory Description:

The nose opens with fresh lemon zest and a maritime salinity, followed by expressive aromatics of preserved lemon, gooseberry, and hints of blackcurrant leaf. On the palate, the wine balances rich, ripe tropical fruit, pineapple, apricot, and pear, with racy acidity and a layered, stony minerality. Its medium body carries both texture and precision, with a lingering, citrus-driven finish that is both vibrant and complex.

Awards & Accolades:

• 90 Points – Decanter World Wine Awards 2024
  “Lovely fresh lemony and saline nose. The palate brings more richness, with ripe pineapple, apricot, and pear flavors, preserved lemon, and stony minerality on the finish.”

Winemaker's Background:

Château de Montfaucon is steeped in history, with its castle roots reaching back to the 11th century when it served as a strategic fortress along the Rhône, then the border between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Today, Rodolphe de Pins leads the estate with a dedication to sustainability and artisanal craftsmanship. A UC Davis graduate and former winemaker at Henschke (Barossa) and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe (Châteauneuf-du-Pape), de Pins has expertly revived the property since taking over in 1995.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 10–12°C (50–54°F). The crisp acidity and mineral complexity make it an ideal pairing for Finnish crayfish, shellfish, clam pasta, blinis with crème fraîche, or grilled white fish with lemon-herb butter. Its medium structure also allows it to pair well with richer fare such as roast chicken or creamy vegetable risottos.

The 2022 Château de Montfaucon 'Comtesse Madeleine' Lirac, Rhone, France is a beautifully crafted white wine that encapsulates the finesse of Rhône terroir and the winemaking prowess of Rodolphe de Pins. It’s an excellent choice for lovers of vibrant, food-friendly whites with a sense of place.