2021 · Le Grand Pontal Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Le Plan des Moines is a boutique producer in France’s Rhône Valley, founded and run by three friends: Thierry Pommet, Daniel Orsolini, and Claude Serra, a viticulturist, winemaker, and oenology professor. The partners own their vineyards and make the wines on site, with Serra leading the winemaking. The estate emphasizes low-yield farming, organic vineyard treatments, and natural-minded practices, though no formal organic certification is mentioned. Vines are mature, with parcels ranging from 25 to 50 years old, and fruit is hand-harvested. In the cellar, the wines are vinified in stainless steel and given short tank ageing, reflecting a straightforward, site-focused approach.