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 of the family - he obtained a degree in "Viticulture- Oenology" and "Commercial science". He studied in the Macon region and joined the family estate in 2003. His father, Jean-Claude, helped convert the estate from Apricot to Grape growing.
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.
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.
