It is a cuvée that was born with the Roussanne that we planted with Bernard in 1999 after a common love affair for a white Hermitage.

When I vinified it for the first time and had to find a name, I called it “Esquisse”, because it was one and I wanted to associate it with a drawing made by my grandfather on the label.

The name has remained, even if the cuvée may vary according to the vintage. Initially, Roussanne was blended with Maccabeu alone (2004 is a pure Roussanne). Today, with Roussanne and Maccabeu, I have added white Grenache co-planted with old Grenache Gris.

The Roussanne brings those fresh fruit aromas that I love, apricot, peach, but also the liveliness in the mouth, the balance being fine-tuned by a maturing on lees in the Burgundian style.

The 2017 vintage is the earliest in the 33 years that I have been making wine; “Esquisse” was harvested on 17 August.