La Grange des Peres (Rouge), Domaine de Grange des Pères 2013

Grange des Pères is a real "cult wine" from the Languedoc region of France. Laurent Vaillé spent his early career training under such masters as Jean-François Coche-Dury (Meursault), Gérard Chave (Hermitage), and Eloi Durrbach (Domaine de Trévallon), he settled in the l’Hérault of the Languedoc and purchased his own land in 1989, near Aniane. In this area of the region, where the limestone is hard and abundant and the soil poor, no one thought he would ever have any success planting a vineyard on his plot of choice. Though it took dynamite and bulldozing to clear twice the amount of limestone, boulders, and glacial scree that is found in neighboring vineyards, he found a great terroir for his grapes. He did not have to look far to find ideal bud wood, either. He sourced his Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussane cuttings from Gérard Chave and his Cabernet from Domaine Trévallon.

Rarely seen in the UK as it is so popular in France. Ephatically not a blockbuster but a harmonious blend containing all the key components of a ‘Grand Vin' in near perfect proportions. The bouquet of ripe garrigue berries with delicate wild herb notes marries beautifully with a palate of soft red and black fruits, game, leather and spice the whole offset by a fresh acidity and supported by a structure of fine-grained tannins. It is already surprisingly approachable but should provide rewarding drinking for a further 10-20 years. Made from Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Counoise.