Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007

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Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007

July 25, 2009 by tomdelorme

Domaine Gramenon is one of the most respected producers in the Rhône. In Robert Parker’s book on the wines of the Rhône valley, he classified Gramenon in the same category as Beaucastel and Fonsalette.

In 1998, owner Phillipe Laurent nearly doubled the area of his vineyards by purchasing some 50 acres in Vinsobres. Unfortunately, he in 1999 died in a tragic accident and his wife decided to sell some of the fields, selling 35 acres the Perrin brothers at Beaucastel. Michelle Aubery-Laurent and her son Maxim-François continue making wines in a pretty natural way, with sulphur dioxide used just at assemblage. They don’t go for much high-tech in their very traditional cellar. Their vineyards are farmed organically, and they never filter or fine their wines.

Their wines are not very well known in the United States as they are available on a limited basis. I found Gramenon’s wines through Kermit Lynch’s newsletter. He described them as a pure expression of biodynamically farmed, old vines Grenache. The fruit flavors they attain are knock-out and tempered by a core of strong minerality. Some might not want to pay $30 for a bottle of Côtes du Rhône, but I was able to pick up a sampler pack of their wine from Kermit Lynch at 25% off and each one of the wines has been a winner.

Laurentides is one of several special cuvees the estate produces, this one a blend of old-vine Grenache with Syrah. Dark ruby red in color. Dark cherry and raspberry with notes of Dr. Pepper, underbrush and Twizzler on the nose. On the palate, lots of ripe fruit (but not overdone) — with dark cherry, pomegranate and currant with graphite/crushed asphalt, earth and a hint of bubble gum. Very approachable while still being just a bit austere. It’s not always easy to pick out a wine from a line up of Côtes du Rhônes, but this is unique and a stand out.

14% alcohol. Imported by Kermit Lynch. Recommended.

Other wines from Domaine Gramenon:
Domaine Gramenon Sierra du Sud 2007
Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône 2007
Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône Blanc Vie on y Est 2008

Other Côtes du Rhônes from the 07 vintage:
Escaravailles Côtes du Rhônes 2007
Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007
Domaine Depeyre Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2007
Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône Terres de Galets 2007
Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2007

Posted in France, Recommended | Tagged Domaine Gramenon, Kermit Lynch, Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007, Maxim-François Laurent, Michelle Aubery-Laurent | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on July 25, 2009 at 8:04 am | Reply Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007 «

[...] Related post: Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007 [...]
on July 25, 2009 at 9:50 am | Reply Escaravailles Côtes du Rhônes 2007 «

[...] Côtes du Rhônes from the 07 vintage: Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007 Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007 Domaine Depeyre Côtes du Roussillon [...]
on July 27, 2009 at 8:24 am | Reply Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône 2007 «

[...] Côtes du Rhônes from the 07 vintage: Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007 Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007 Domaine Depeyre Côtes du Roussillon [...]
on August 11, 2009 at 3:52 pm | Reply romo

tom, i really like les laurentides. though, i cannot find the exact composition online. you say it’s grenache and syrah, though i taste way more syrah.

the sagesse is 100% grenache, but the laurentides?

do you know?

thanks!
- on August 11, 2009 at 7:41 pm | Reply tomdelorme
  
  romo, you are right about les laurentides, it is hard to find out the exact composition — I have a feeling it is 60-65 percent grenache and the remainder syrah, but that is just a guess — let me see what i can find out.
on August 22, 2009 at 6:24 am | Reply Domaine Gramenon Sierra du Sud 2007 «

[...] Côtes du Rhônes from the 07 vintage: Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône 2007 Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007 Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007 Domaine Depeyre Côtes du Roussillon [...]
on October 3, 2009 at 7:31 am | Reply Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses 2007 «

[...] 07 vintage: Domaine Gramenon Sierra du Sud 2007 Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône 2007 Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône 2007 Côtes du Rhône Maxime-François Laurent Il Fait Soif 2007 Escaravailles Côtes du Rhônes [...]
on November 6, 2009 at 8:12 am | Reply Les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône 2007 «

[...] Côtes du Rhône 2007 Domaine Gramenon Sierra du Sud Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône Les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône Terres de Galets Escaravailles [...]
on November 14, 2009 at 4:27 pm | Reply Domaine Alary Cairanne La Font d’Estevenas 2007 «

[...] Richaud Côtes du Rhône-Villages-Cairanne Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône Terres de Galets Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône Escaravailles Côtes du [...]

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