As the name suggests, L’Anscestrale is drawn from the domaine’s oldest vines, principally a parcel of 90-year-old vines in the Clos du Roy, but also incorporating Clémengeot and Les Ouzeloy. The winemaking is the same as for the domaine’s top reds—100% whole-cluster pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation, gentle extraction, no sulphur and lengthy maturation—although this wine sees a bit more new oak. Pataille notes that the new barrels (50%) complement the bottling’s inherent density.