Les Hauts Chassis, Organic Rhône Wines

Franck Faugier joined the family estate in 1998 and soon made a name for himself within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation. His estate, Les Hauts Chassis, is situated in the heart of the hamlet of the same name, in the southern part of the appellation.

The estate covers 13 hectares (12 marked in red, 1 in white). A must-visit for all wine lovers looking for great value in the northern Rhône Valley. It also produces wines under the Hermitage appellation as Domaine Faugier-Gonnet.

Les Hauts-Chassis in the vineyard

The 17 hectares of vineyards at Domaine Les Hauts Châssis are situated on a terroir of fluvio-glacial alluvium, with a 30–40 cm layer of red clay sand. The large pebbles that make up the soil have the distinctive property of storing heat throughout the day and then releasing it at night. The oldest vines in the vineyard were planted in the 1930s and are therefore over 80 years old. Around 1950, a further 4 hectares were added; the rest of the estate consists of young vines.

The dominant grape variety at Domaine Les Hauts Châssis is Syrah. It is grown across 14 hectares of vineyards to produce red Crozes-Hermitage wines. Franck Faugier also owns 1 hectare dedicated to white Crozes-Hermitage, where he grows Roussanne and Marsanne. He also produces a white Hermitage and an Hermitage from tiny plots under the name Faugier-Gonnet.

Franck Faugier knows this terroir well and pays close attention to it. He has been practising organic viticulture since 2017, an approach that is more respectful of the soil and the vines. He carries out all vineyard work by hand. As the estate boasts 15 hectares of fruit trees, the winemaker knows what quality fruit is, and this expertise is reflected in his wine, which displays excellent aromatic precision.

Les Hauts-Chassis in the cellar

The modern winery comprises temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The character of each cuvée stems from the nuances of the winemaking process.

The Esquisse cuvée is quickly transferred to vats and cooled to between 10 and 13°C. Cold maceration takes place for 4 to 6 days to extract as much fruit flavour as possible. Fermentation takes place at between 28 and 30°C, with two pump-overs per day. Then, for 4 to 8 days, post-fermentation maceration takes place to extract the softest tannins. The wine is aged in vats until March.

The Les Galets cuvée is distinguished by a shorter pre-fermentation maceration and a longer post-fermentation maceration lasting 10 to 20 days. The wine is then aged for a year. This cuvée offers a wealth of red fruit aromas and a tighter structure.

Finally, Les Châssis is the finest cuvée from Domaine les Hauts Châssis, sourced from the estate’s oldest vineyard plots. Pressed immediately after harvest and transferred to new demi-muids, where it is aged for a year, this wine fully expresses the authenticity of its terroir. 

The Essentiel vintage is a warm, fresh white wine with aromas of peaches, violets and exotic fruits.

A few photos of the Les Hauts Chassis estate