97 pts Decanter
Barrel sample, so a provisional score. Unbelievably pure red and black fruits strawberry and damson with lavender and violets underneath. This has such a beautiful tannic feel, like woven silk. Grippy though it certainly has structure. The definition of a great, pure Grenache from the southern Rhne, with the structure, freshness and purity, and a classic balance. It’s potent, but not excessive. From 120-year-old pure Grenache vines; aged in used demi-muid for 12 months. To be revisited in bottle before definitive conclusions can be made on the final wine.

JLL ****quite a full red colour; the nose has a herbal, lingering air, black cherry, licorice, is primary now, has inner depth. The palate gives an open strike blackberry with the onset of bold tar-tannins from half way, holds close-knit juice, and thrust from the tannins that line it, furnish it, require time. From mid-2025, no hurry. 2034-36 Feb 2024

100% Grenache

100% Grenache (1900s-1910s, used for massale cuttings to replace dead vines) from 2 plots total 0.5 hectare on sand-gravel, white, brown clay-limestone soils at Gramenon near the house, whole bunch fermentation in an open wood vat, 2-3 week vinification, daily pumping overs, can do cap punchings, sometimes 1 x part vat emptying/refilling at end (2023), from 2020 aged 5-10 year 600-litre oak casks 8-10 months, from 2021 part raised concrete egg (before 2020 aged 5-10 year 228 & 225-litre oak casks 8-10 months) unfined, unfiltered, first wine 1979, 2,800-5,250 b