Faugier Gonnet

The Faugier family has been growing grapes on the Châssis plain, south of Tain-l’Hermitage in the Northern Rhône, for five generations. For most of that time, the harvest was sent to a cooperative. When Franck Faugier reclaimed the estate in 1998, he had a different plan. He spent five years patiently withdrawing the vineyards from the Cave de Tain and building his own cellar. His first vintage under the name Domaine des Hauts Châssis was released in 2003. His son Raphaël joined him in 2022 after six years of studying winemaking and working elsewhere. The estate is located in La Roche-de-Glène in the Drôme department.

Faugier Gonnet is the label used by Franck Faugier, of Domaine des Hauts Châssis.

Vineyards

The estate covers 20 hectares across three appellations: Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Perat. The soils on the Châssis plateau consist of classic Alpine alluvial deposits: large, rounded river stones on red sandy-clay soil. The stones absorb heat during the day and release it at night. The oldest vines date back to the 1930s. The entire estate has been certified organic since 2017, following a three-year transition to organic farming. The estate is currently also exploring biodynamic methods.

Grape varieties

Syrah dominates the red wines of all appellations. As for the white wines, Crozes-Hermitage is a blend of equal parts Marsanne and Roussanne. Saint-Péray is 100% Marsanne. As for Condrieu, sold under the Faugier Gonnet label from a lieu-dit called Faugier on granite soils, it is 100% Viognier. The white Hermitage, also under the name Faugier Gonnet, is a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne from a tiny plot.

Winemaking

The approach is traditional and involves minimal intervention. The white wines undergo direct pressing, cold settling, then fermentation, with no barrel ageing. The red wines undergo destemming before fermentation, with pumping over and punching down depending on the vintage. Ageing lasts twelve months for wines that require it, with very little use of new oak. The winery’s equipment is modern and made of stainless steel.

Wines

The estate currently produces nine cuvées across five appellations. The range of Crozes-Hermitage reds varies from the lighter, early-drinking Esquisse to Les Galets and the more structured Les Châssis. There is also a red Saint-Joseph for longer ageing.

Under the Faugier Gonnet label, the red Hermitage is designed to be cellared for 20 to 30 years. The Hermitage and Condrieu whites are produced in very small quantities and are among the rarest wines in the range.