Hervé Souhaut

History of Domaine Hervé Souhaut 

The story of Domaine Hervé Souhaut is one of a passion sparked by a chance encounter with the world of natural wine. Hervé Souhaut, a trained biologist originally from Paris, had a revelation when he tasted the wines of Marcel Lapierre in Beaujolais and Philippe Pacalet in Burgundy. That experience inspired him to embark on his winemaking journey.

In 1993, Hervé and his wife Béatrice founded Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet in Arlebosc, Ardèche. The estate’s name pays tribute to the 16th-century fortified farmhouse “les romaneaux,” beneath which the estate’s cellar now sits. From the outset, Hervé chose a natural, environmentally respectful approach, drawing inspiration from organic farming methods without seeking certification.

To hone his craft, Hervé apprenticed with renowned winemakers such as René-Jean Dard and François Ribo, known for their purist approach to winemaking. This training profoundly shaped his winemaking philosophy, encouraging him to make wines as naturally as possible to best express the potential of his Ardèche terroir.

Over the years, the estate gradually grew from a few parcels inherited from Béatrice’s family into a 5-hectare vineyard. Hervé also began buying grapes, enabling him to reach an annual production of around 25,000 bottles.

In 2015, Hervé launched a new project, Les Marécos, in collaboration with his neighbor Michel Savel. Savel decided to replant some of his hillsides with vines, entrusting Hervé with vineyard management and winemaking. This initiative expanded the estate’s wine range while remaining true to Hervé’s philosophy.

Terroirs and vineyards of Domaine Hervé Souhaut 

Domaine Hervé Souhaut enjoys an exceptional terroir on the right bank of the Rhône, opposite the famous Hermitage hill. This prime location provides ideal south-southeast exposure and benefits from the warm climate of the Doux delta, creating optimal conditions for growing vines.

The estate’s geological foundation is primarily granite, a crystalline bedrock dating from the Hercynian era. This granitic composition gives the wines lovely acidity and pronounced minerality, hallmarks of the region’s great wines.

The vineyards of Domaine Hervé Souhaut comprise several parcels spread across Arlebosc, Empurany and Colombier le Vieux in the Doux Valley. Each parcel brings its own character and contributes to the complexity of the wines produced:

The diversity of the parcels, combined with the venerable age of some vines—the oldest are up to 100 years old—allows Hervé Souhaut to create wines of great complexity and remarkable depth.

Winemaking at Domaine Hervé Souhaut

Hervé Souhaut’s winemaking philosophy centers on respecting the grapes and authentically expressing the Ardèche terroir. His carefully considered methods aim to capture the very essence of his vineyards in every bottle.

The process begins with meticulous hand harvesting, followed by long, low-temperature macerations, generally without destemming. Hervé favors whole-cluster fermentation for many cuvées, using semi-carbonic maceration. This approach helps produce subtle, refined wines with elegant tannic structure.

True to his natural philosophy, Hervé lets fermentation begin spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The wines are aged on fine lees, often in used oak barrels or stainless steel tanks, adding complexity and texture.

Bottling takes place without filtration or fining, preserving the wines’ integrity. Sulfur use is minimal, with only a tiny amount added at bottling to ensure the wine’s stability.

This low-intervention approach allows Hervé Souhaut to produce wines of great purity that faithfully reflect their terroir while being ready to enjoy right away. Unlike some Northern Rhône wines made for long aging, Hervé’s wines are approachable in their youth yet retain excellent aging potential.

The cuvées of Domaine Hervé Souhaut 

Domaine Hervé Souhaut offers a varied range of wines, each expressing a unique facet of the Ardèche terroir:

La Souteronne: This emblematic cuvée is made from old Gamay vines. The wine offers an appealing aromatic profile combining red fruit, spice and minerality. Its silky texture and freshness make it exceptionally easy to drink.

Sainte Epine: Made from century-old Syrah vines, this wine is a true expression of its schist terroir. It displays complex aromas of spice, black fruit and violet, supported by elegant tannic structure.

Saint Joseph: This prestigious appellation produces a distinguished, deeply expressive Syrah. Notes of black fruit, violet and smoked bacon are characteristic of this age-worthy fine wine.

Syrah: A more approachable expression of Syrah, offering aromas of black fruit, violet and spice, with lovely freshness on the palate.

Viognier/Roussanne: A harmonious blend of these two emblematic white grape varieties of the Rhône Valley. The wine displays floral and white fruit aromas, supported by lovely minerality.

Cessieux: A new Saint Joseph cuvée from vines recently taken over by Hervé. This wine combines power and finesse, with notes of red fruit and spice.

Les Marécos Blanc: A white wine from the Les Marécos project, blending Marsanne and Roussanne. It offers a lovely expression of Rhône white grape varieties, with floral and fruity notes.

Les Marécos Rouge: The red expression of the Les Marécos project, blending Merlot and Syrah. A fruity, spicy wine that reflects Hervé’s expertise applied to young vines.

Le Petit Merle Ardéchois: A 100% Merlot cuvée, rare in the region, that adds a touch of originality to the range. This wine offers red fruit aromas and lovely freshness.

Domaine Hervé Souhaut produces quality wines year after year. Here is a selection of noteworthy vintages to discover: 2018, 2019, and 2020. Each vintage offers a unique expression of the Ardèche terroir and Hervé Souhaut’s style, reflecting the year’s particular weather conditions and the estate’s ongoing evolution.

For wine lovers looking to deepen their exploration of Ardèche and Northern Rhône Valley wines, here are a few estates to discover: Thierry Allemand, Pierre Gonon, Alain Voge, Yves Cuilleron and Jean Louis Chave.

Domaine Hervé Souhaut has become an essential name in the world of natural wine. Through his respect for terroir, meticulous winemaking methods and range of expressive wines, Hervé Souhaut has created a unique identity, capturing the very essence of Northern Ardèche in every bottle. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or a curious newcomer, the wines of Domaine Hervé Souhaut offer an unforgettable tasting experience and an invitation to explore the richness and diversity of Ardèche terroirs.