Domaine Galevan - 'Aureus' - Clairette - Côtes du Rhône, FR - 2025

Satellite's Hot Take

A salty, elegant skin contact that makes us smile.

Notes from the Winery/Importer

“Aureus” is a skin-contact Clairette from Domaine Galévan in the Rhône Valley — golden, textural, and quietly wild. It opens with notes of mocha, dried orchard fruit, warm spice, and a little savory depth, balanced by enough freshness to keep the wine lifted and alive. Full but not heavy, expressive but not loud, it’s a gorgeous match for aperitifs, richly seasoned dishes, and even desserts that lean nutty, spiced, or fruit-driven.

Domaine Galévan is led by Coralie Goumarre, the first woman to run her family’s estate in nine generations. She carries forward the work of her parents, Pierrette and Jean-Pierre, along with the deeper family lineage of Jean-François and Eloi, while bringing her own creative and modern touch to the domaine.

The estate spans about 60 hectares, 56 of them planted to vine, and is farmed organically. The vineyards, many nearing 50 years old, produce naturally low yields with excellent concentration and character. Galévan works across some of the Rhône’s classic appellations — including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône Villages, and Côtes du Rhône — with a style that balances tradition, precision, elegance, and a sense of freedom.

Notes on the Producer

Coralie, is the first woman to take the destiny of the family estate, and this for 9 generations. Before her and her parents Jean-Pierre and Pierrette, Eloi and Jean-François, her ancestors, left their mark on the estate.
In turn, this convinced “VigneRhône” gives a new impulse to Domaine Galévan, between modernity, independence and “joie de vivre”.
On this 60 hectare estate in one piece, all the great Rhone grape varieties are represented. The vines are worked with the greatest respect for nature.
Never before has the estate borne its name so well. In addition to the evocation of an exceptional terroir, the name Galévan also symbolizes the balance between know-how and freedom of creation, the roundness of the wines and the poetic breath, constancy and challenge.
The names of the wines, the care given to their packaging, the emblem affixed to each of them imbued with femininity and elegance… No doubt, the very personal tone of Coralie is given. From now on, we will have to count on this wine creator with asserted qualitative ambitions.
Located in the commune of Courthézon, the estate covers 60 hectares. The entire vineyard is run in Organic Agriculture. Our vines are spread over the appellations Châteauneuf du Pape, Côtes du Rhône Village, Côtes du Rhône and Vin de Pays. All the great Rhone grape varieties are represented: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan for the reds, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Bourboulenc for the whites. The average age of the vines is 65 years old and produces small quantities of very high quality grapes.

Grapes & Style

Clairette

Clairette is a southern French white grape with a long history around the Rhône, Provence, and Languedoc. It’s one of those Mediterranean varieties that can look simple on paper but becomes compelling when handled with restraint: generous enough for sunlit texture, but still capable of freshness and quiet detail.

In the vineyard, Clairette tends to ripen with moderate acidity, so picking and site matter. In blends it can soften sharper grapes and add body, while on its own it often works best when the winemaking preserves its herbal, stony side rather than pushing it toward weight.

In the glass, Clairette often shows pear, lemon, fennel, white flowers, almond, and a lightly saline or bitter-herbal finish. The best versions are subtle, savory, and very Mediterranean — less about flashy fruit than texture, herbs, and refreshment.