Domaine de Saint-Antoine is owned and run by Jean-Louis Emmanuel and his wife Marlène. Located in the hills southeast of the ancient Roman city of Nîmes, it is in the heart of the Costières de Nîmes appellation, on the western edge of the Rhône River. The estate’s 20 hectare of vines are planted on the plateau of rocky limestone soil that was deposited when this area was underneath the Rhône River. The terroir is comparable to that found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a similar growing season and micro-climate.
Jean-Louis Emmanuel produces some of the regions juiciest, most satisfying, inexpensive wines. Only the estates oldest vineyard parcels at Saint Antoine are used for the Kacher cuvées. He keeps the yields for these parcels well below what is allowed in the appellation giving his fruit great ripeness. Jean-Louis prefers to de-stem all of his grapes, and he vinifies and ages the Merlot in stainless steel tanks. This helps maintain the primary fruit aromas and flavors found in the wine. After fermentation, he keeps about 20% of the wine in 300 liter new and once-used barrels which, once blended together, provides a soft patina around the bright red-berry fruit.
A terrific value, the Saint-Antoine Merlot offers ripe cassis and cherry flavors with soft juicy tannins. This definitely has a southern French twist to the black cherry fruit. Imbued with garrigue aromas and flavors, it is very reflective of its terroir. Medium-bodied, beautifully ripened, velvety, well-balanced, and loaded with spicy dark fruit flavors, this is a joy to drink.
AWM regular price: $14.99
Holiday Special: $11.99