Clos du Gravillas, Sous Les Cailloux Des Grillons 2022

In 1996 John and Nicole Bojanowski, a young Franco-American couple, purchased Clos de Gravillas in the Minervois region of south-western France and embarked upon a journey of making wine to best reflect the terroir of limestone gravel of their vineyards, where grapes have been grown for hundreds of years.

Perched on a plateau at an elevation of almost 1000ft, this 15-acre winery lies between the St. Chinian and Minerve canyons in the Parc Naturel of the Haut Languedoc just south of the Black Mountains. This location provides cool evening winds that let the grapes better retain their acidity and the hot summer temperatures assure the development of the necessary alcohol to balance acidity. This element of their terroir helps the grapes develop maximum depth of flavour.

The key to Gravillas is the fantastic terroir in Saint Jean-de Minervois and every year that passes one sees a symapathetic progression in the winemaking with Nicole & John at the helm. This wine proves that it can be definitely cricket and crickety-boo and refers to the ubiquitous crickets/grillons that lurk under the gravels and the night sky in this beautiful hamlet.

TASTING NOTES

A simply delicious dark-and-red-fruit-filled blend of Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Counoise, Grenache Noir and Terret Gris made without any oak. This is natural winemaking at its best: unfined, unfiltered, no added yeast, acidity or sugar and – of course – hand harvested. Best decanted to show its magnificence and an archetypal example of what we would call a real wine and guaranteed to put a smile on your face each time you raise a glass, it’s all in the blend!!

REVIEWS & AWARDS
“It’s a fairly serious, brooding red that needs some time to show its best. The tight, deep nose shows hints of ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit, with a liquoricey, mineral edge. The palate is savoury and dense with lots of ripe red fruits cloaked in a rather minerally, taut structure. It’s got lots of appeal but not in a forward, showy style: it’s more guarded and beguiling.” – very good/excellent 90/100 – Jamie Goode

This wine is from a certified producer.