Domaine Jean-Claude & Nicolas Fayolle is located in the village of Gervans, 5 kilometers north from Tain-l'Hermitage in the Drome department.
Nicolas Fayolle represents the 3rd generation. His father, Jean-Claude, helped convert the estate from Apricot to Grape growing.
Owner: Jean-Claude and Nicolas Fayolle
Winery Philosophy: All the vineyards are tended and harvested manually due to the incline of the slopes. Treatment of the vines is limited to better manage the soil erosion. The “cuvees” are produced from specific parcels and they neither destem nor use new oak barrels to preserve each “cuvee’s” typicity.
The estate was founded by Nicolas' grand-father Jules Fayolle in 1958.
Nicolas is the 3rd generation in this family owned estate.
Nicolas has a degree in "Viticulture- Oenologie" and "Commercial science". He studied in the Macon region and joined the family estate in 2003.
Family highlights
Charles Fayolle received a prize in 1909 in Arcachon for his wine.
Jules Fayolle - Nicolas' grandfather - became in 1958 the second bottler among independent winemakers (not part of coops or negociants) in Tain l’Hermitage.
The Fayolle brothers (Nicolas' father and uncle) founded a partnership in 1982.
1984: Nicolas' grandfather produced his last vintage.
In the 80’s the estate focused on the production of apricots - the growing and harvest of 100 tons of apricots (Bergeron) since wine is a low value sale at that time.
1990-1991: planting of vines in "La Rochette" parcel, in the village of Serves sur Rhône.
1992-1993: the value of wine started climbing while apricot value dropped.
1995-1996: Nicolas Fayolle participated to Wine Fairs for the 1st time.
2001-2003: The Fayolle brothers ended their partnership and their children joined the family estate.
2003: Nicolas Fayolle took over the estate with his father.
Nicolas studied Viticulture and Oenology for 4 years in the Macon region followed by 2 years of business school in Beaune. He worked as an intern at Domaine Monteiro in Saint Véran, Domaine Barge in Ampuis (Cote Rôtie & Saint Joseph) and at the Courbis Brothers in Châteaubourg (Cornas & Saint Joseph).
2003: construction of a new cellar for the production, aging, storage.
2006: Jean Claude Fayolle (father) retired.
2011: last apricot harvest. The Fayolle estate is now only dedicated to wine.
2016-2017: focus on BtoB sales (wine stores in France and export markets)
Winery Acreage: 17.36 acres (7 hectares)
Winery Production: 2000 / 9L cases
Varietals Produced: Syrah and Marsanne
Winemaker: Nicolas Fayolle
They have a total of 7 hectares:
As far as the Crozes Hermitage AOC is concerned, they own 6 hectares in the following lieu-dits:
• 2.5 hectares in “La Rochette”, at the North of the Village of Serves-sur-Rhone, located 600 meters South of the Northern border. (1.5 hectare in red and 1.0 hectare in white). It is a soil composed of red granit and Terre Blanches.
• 1.15 hectares in “La Grande Seguine”, which is not an official Lieu-Dit. It is located in the Lieu-Dit of Les Pontaix, North of the Crozes-Hermitage village. The soil is mainly a blend of Clay/ Granit and also Clay / Stone. (argilo-granitiques and argilo-caillouteux).
• 2.35 hectares in other lieu-dits, used to make other Cuvees (Cuvee Fayolle and Cuvee Nicolas) that are not imported by KPF. These are mainly planted on white granit and a clay/granit mix type of soil.
Regarding the Hermitage AOC, they own 1 hectare in the Lieu dit of “Les Dionnieres" that can also be found spelled “Les Diognieres”. It is located at the bottom of the Hill of Hermitage, right next to the town of Tain-L’Hermitage. It is divided between 0.8 hectare of red and 0.18 hectare of white. The soils is composed of Clay and Silica mixed with pebble stones.
More than 80% of the vineyards are located on steep hills and terraces, making harvest by machine impossible.
"If the prebottling sample of the Fayolles' 2017 Hermitage Les Dionnieres is truly representative, purchasers will be in for a treat. It's inky dark in color, with a cassis-laden nose that's marked by hints of crushed stone. It's full-bodied and concentrated, tannic without being hard or overdone, and despite ample ripeness, there's structure and freshness. It looks to be the complete package and potentially in the same ballpark (quality-wise) as the impressive 2015. - Joe Czerwinski"
"From a site on the eastern side of Hermitage hill consisting of more sedimentary and limestone soils, the 2017 Hermitage Les Dionnières has a classic, old school vibe in its crème de cassis, black raspberry, green olive, and building minerality. This medium to full-bodied effort has good density of fruit, fresh, vibrant acidity, and one serious kick of tannins on the finish. It's going to need 3-4 years of bottle age but will be a classic, complex Hermitage that will keep for 10-15 years."
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"Ripe, luscious black-cherry and berry notes are fresh and perfumed, accented by anise, violet and dried herb. It's plush and silky on the palate but anchored by crisp acidity and finely edged, persistent tannins. Enjoyable now for its youthful, primary side, it should develop more savory complexity from 2025 and hold further. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
"(all whole clusters; fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels) Youthful purple. Heady, spice-accented boysenberry and violet aromas show excellent clarity and a hint of olive. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed dark berry liqueur and floral pastille flavors plus a suggestion of spicecake. The impressively long finish features strong minerally cut, an echo of sweet blue fruit and chewy tannins that come in late. - Josh Raynolds"
"A fresher, more aromatic style than most but it still has a broad, opulent element to it through ripe blackcurrants, intense spices and young grippy tannins.
