Winemaker: Anne Gros & Jean-Paul
Farming: Organic
Grape Varieties: Grenache
Terroir : Sandstone marls, 30 year old vines
Vinification: Hand harvested. Fermented in Burgundian, all destemmed
Aging : Stainless steel tank
Tasting Notes: “Medium deep ruby red colour. Ripe but nuanced nose offering ripe red berries, plum and Kirsch with some garrigue notes. Very nice palate, dense and ripe with fine proportions, grainy tannin, a fresh backbone and sweet fruit paired with crushed pepper and wild herbs. Long and unctuous finish with a nice drinkability.” 92 -Andreas Larsson

From our 2023 Cellar Builder Club Notes;

Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot La Grenache 8, Minervois, Languedoc 2018 Anne Gros and Jean-Paul Tollot are two Burgundian powerhouses who have joined forces to create a new standard for quality and character in the Languedoc. Gros, who has been running her own estate in Vosne-Romanée for decades, brings finesse and precision to the winemaking process. Her partner, Jean-Paul, comes from the family estate of Tollot-Beaut in Chorey-lès-Beaune, bringing a wealth of experience to the partnership. The search for the perfect location to make wine together led them to the high-altitude hills of Minervois, where the region's varied terroir, cooler heights, and very old vines offered just the combination they were looking for. Minervois, in the Languedoc-Roussillon, is a warm, Mediterranean region, with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. But their vineyards are located in Cazelles, just north of the famous walled city Carcassonne in the shadow of the Montagne Noir, in the hills where temperatures are cooler and terroir varied. The higher elevation, interestingly, the exact same elevation as in Vosne-Romanée, allows grapes to ripen slowly, preserving their natural acidity and keeping alcohol in the finished wines moderate. Overall, Gros and Tollot's winemaking philosophy is to respect tradition while preserving the biodiversity of the terroir. The vines are cared for using "lutte raisonée" principles, following organic practices, and avoiding chemical treatments as much as possible unless it is certain they will lose their entire vineyard without intervention.

The 'La Grenache 8' is made from hand-picked Grenache grapes grown on sandstone marls from 30-year-old vines, fermented in Burgundian barrels with all destemmed grapes then aged in stainless steel tanks. The wine is well-structured and the palate is dense and ripe with sweet dark, cherry compote, and dates, balanced by crushed rosemary, sage, lavender, violet, and juniper. This is a robust dinner wine. Think about roast pork with herbs, ratatouille, roasted vegetables, or a Moroccan lamb tagine. —Cara Patricia