Château des Tourettes

History of Château des Tourettes

The history of Château des Tourettes began in 1997, when Maine and Jean-Marie Guffens-Heynen, a couple of winemakers of Dutch origin settled in France since 1976, acquired this property located a few kilometres from Apt, in the Luberon. Already recognised worldwide for the exceptional quality of the whites produced at Domaine Guffens-Heynen in the Mâconnais, founded in 1979, as well as for their Maison Verget, they were immediately captivated by the exceptional character of this site and the singular beauty of the Luberon landscapes. They had also owned Château Closiot in Barsac for some years, completing a journey that is at once northern, southern and Bordelais.

Upon their arrival, the property was in a state of near-dereliction and the vineyard heavily marked by previous chemical inputs. The couple then undertook a colossal restructuring effort, replanting by massale selection and grafting over existing vines with varieties sometimes unusual for the Luberon. This choice deliberately distanced them from the Côtes du Luberon appellation (now Luberon AOC), but allowed them to reveal the singular potential of their high-altitude terroir. The estate's first red, named "Enfin !", was created in 2004, followed in 2019 by cuvées aged in the manner of a solera, including the celebrated "17 de moyenne". Today, Château des Tourettes has established itself as one of the references of contemporary Luberon, celebrated by La Revue du Vin de France and the Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château des Tourettes

The vineyard today extends between 15 and 19 hectares, perched on the Plateau de l'Aigle at approximately 400 to 420 metres of altitude, one of the highest sectors in the Luberon. This position grants the estate a remarkable thermal amplitude, with cool nights that temper the summer heat and preserve the natural acidity of the grapes. The soils, rich in limestone, sometimes mixed with clay and stones, offer ideal drainage and lend a mineral and saline signature that is rare in the region. The Durance, queen of Provence, influences the surrounding landscapes and contributes to the singular climatic character of the site.

The Guffens couple made the bold choice to plant and graft-over their vineyard with varieties atypical for the Luberon. The whites (approximately 7 hectares) combine Chardonnay, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier; the reds bring together Cabernet Sauvignon (rare in the region), Syrah and Grenache. Vineyard management is resolutely low-interventionist, almost minimalist, in keeping with the couple's Burgundian philosophy: preserving the identity of the grape, avoiding standardisation, daring to think outside the box. The harvest is entirely manual, carried out in several passes, with rigorous sorting in the vineyard to select only perfectly ripe berries.

Winemaking at Château des Tourettes

In the cellar, Jean-Marie Guffens applies the same expertise and precision as in the Mâconnais, transposed to the Mediterranean climate of the Luberon. For the whites, pressing is as gentle and controlled as possible in order to bring out the best in the grape without altering it; only the first-run juice is retained for certain cuvées such as Tinus, to avoid any bitterness. Fermentations take place in oak barrels or truncated cone-shaped concrete vats, sometimes tulip-shaped, followed by an average ageing of 10 months, sometimes longer for the prestige cuvées.

For the reds, Guffens favours a long maceration approach (approximately 30 days) with no pumping over or punching down, in order to achieve gentle extractions, integrated tannins and deep colours without aggressiveness. In 2019, the couple launched two revolutionary cuvées in white and red, aged in tank in the manner of a solera (blending of several vintages), the first edition of which is called "17 de moyenne", the result of a blend of 2016, 2017 and 2018. The wines are sealed with Stelvin screw caps, guaranteeing perfect preservation. This overall philosophy, which favours freedom of blending and classification as Vin de France, reflects the couple's boldness and singular vision.

The Cuvées of Château des Tourettes

Tinus Roussanne Côteau de l'Aigle: the signature white cuvée, crafted from 100% Roussanne sourced from the Plateau de l'Aigle. Vinified in a tulip-shaped concrete vat using only the first-run juice, it is distinguished by great aromatic purity: nose of white fruits, white flowers, honey and mineral complexity; taut, generous palate with freshness preserved by altitude.

Tinus Blanc de Noirs: an original variation from the Tinus range, a white wine crafted from dark varieties vinified without maceration. A rarity that showcases Jean-Marie Guffens's creative freedom and offers a singular aromatic expression combining freshness and finesse.

Bien Entendu: a white IGP Vaucluse cuvée, a harmonious blend often combining Chardonnay, Roussanne and Viognier. Golden yellow colour, powerful and rich nose of ripe yellow fruits, melon, apricot and smoky undertones, generous and almost oily palate underpinned by a thread of acidity that prevents any heaviness. A luscious white that comes into its own alongside aged cheeses.

Chardonnay Terre d'Aigle: a Vin de Pays du Vaucluse in 100% Chardonnay, a direct testament to Guffens's Burgundian signature. Nose of ripe yellow fruits, almond, toasted and smoky notes, a generous palate with a broad yet coherent core, well-judged ageing. A subtle expression of high-altitude Luberon Chardonnay.

Endes: a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon red cuvée, a rare and bold expression of this Bordeaux variety on the limestone terroirs of the Luberon. Dense, bright ruby colour, an evolved nose of gentle spices and fruit, an elegant palate with perfectly integrated tannins, balanced finish. A rarity not to be missed.

Endes 56: a single-plot variation or specific vintage from the Endes range, often sourced from a more precisely defined Cabernet Sauvignon plot. A confidential cuvée that extends Jean-Marie Guffens's boldness into the southern reds.

Trilogie d'Endes / Grande Trilogie « Enfin »: an original blend of 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Grenache, 1/3 Syrah, vinified with long macerations and no pumping over or punching down. A colourful, powerful and fresh wine with discreet toasted notes and black fruits, round tannins and a perfectly balanced, digestible palate. The Guffens signature in the service of a rich and nuanced terroir.

Enfin !: the estate's first red, created in 2004, whose exclamation pays tribute to the long-awaited arrival of a Guffens-Heynen red. A Syrah-dominant blend that reveals the winemaker's mastery of red wines, to be enjoyed young or after a few years of ageing.

17 de moyenne: a revolutionary cuvée launched in 2019, aged in tank in the manner of a solera and blended from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages, hence its name evoking the arithmetic mean of the three years. Available in both white and red, in a spirit of timeless balance, freed from the constraints of a single vintage.

Coteau de Truci: a single-vineyard cuvée from a specific sector of the estate, expressing a particularly pronounced mineral and saline signature. A singular expression of the Plateau de l'Aigle, at once precise and profound.

Les Petites Tourettes: the estate's entry-level cuvée, generous and accessible, offering the ideal gateway into the world of Jean-Marie Guffens in the Luberon, at a very attractive price.