Domaine Gramenon, Cotes-du-Rhone Poignee de Raisins 2020

Located near the village of Vinsobres towards the northern end of the Southern Rhône region, Domaine Gramenon is a little unusual in the sense that it manages to produce extremely high-end wines from vineyards that bear no more than the lowly appellation of Côtes du Rhône. They have an excellent range of distinctive, strong wines with dense, ripe fruit, which is often put down to the age of the vines and exceptional terroir. The minimal use of sulphur also allows the fruit to retain much of its flavour.

TASTING NOTES
This fantastic red is excellent value and is perfect for early drinking. The fermentation process occurs without sulphur dioxide, and the wine is bottled unfiltered. The end result is a sweet, smooth, open nose which is both elegant and rounded. The palate is simultaneously juicy and smooth. 100% gorgeous Grenache! 

Gramenon wines are made in a pretty natural way, with sulphur dioxide used just at assemblage. Perhaps this is one of the keys to their purity of fruit; then again, it could make them a bit of a risky proposition. My view is that you really are better off drinking these wines young rather than taking a gamble on them in the cellar. I say this for two reasons: first, they’re so delicious now it’s hard to keep them, and second because the low sulfur regime might lead to unpredictable ageing trajectories. That’s not to say they are incapable of ageing, of course. Jamie Goode MW

This wine is from a certified producer.