Notify me
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Piedlong”
Famille BrunierHistorically, the Bruniers’ La Crau bottling has been their flagship wine, their grand cru of sorts. In 2011 they decided to isolate the fruit from a promising vineyard with galet-littered soil from a separate plateau known as Piedlong, which lies at the summit of the appellation. This bottling might be—in essence—their other grand cru. Piedlong is a vineyard inherited from Daniel and Frédéric Brunier’s grandmother over thirty-five years ago, but the fruit was always blended into other wines. For various reasons, some unexplainable, fruit from Piedlong ripens about two weeks later than on La Crau, which gives it an immediate advantage, as a slow ripening process allows grapes to gain in complexity. The resulting cuvée—made from 90% Grenache—is therefore a kind of tribute to the grape and its ability to express terroir with purity. While visiting the domaine recently, we tasted one of the first vintages, a 2012 that was refined and elegant, and a beautiful pairing with spit-roasted lamb. I got the sense that Daniel is truly proud of what his family is building with this cuvée, as if somehow the wine will be the future of the domaine and, in many ways, the legacy of his generation. Not surprisingly, the 2020 vintage drinks like something even more ethereal than you’d expect from a southern red: it’s mineral and structured but with delicate aromas of rose petal, currants, and réglisse. Piedlong is a new classic.
—Jane Augustine
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre |
Appellation: | Châteauneuf-du-Pape |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Famille Brunier |
Winemaker: | Frédéric & Daniel Brunier |
Vineyard: | Grenache = 70 years old, Mourvèdre = 50 years old, 13 ha |
Soil: | Sand on red clay and galets roulés |
Aging: | Wine is aged in concrete tanks for 1 year, then aged a second year in 50 hl foudre, bottled unfined and unfiltered, aged in bottle for 3 months |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
NV Clairette de Die Brut
France | Southern Rhône
A dry sparkler made exclusively from Clairette
2016 Cairanne
France | Southern Rhône
This Cairanne bears all of the southern Rhône notes we love and pairs magically with braised oxtails or grilled lamb chops.
NV Clairette de Die “Tradition”
France | Southern Rhône
This festive sparkling wine is vinified following the ancient tradition of one of the most gorgeous corners of France, where small hills grow into small mountains on the flanks of the Alps.
2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
A fresh, pure entry point to the Rhône’s great reds with aromas and flavors of black cherries, stones, and a hint of black olive.
2022 Tavel Rosé
France | Southern Rhône
Stony, spicy, and dense, it evokes red berries, watermelon, and garrigue and offers a beautiful accompaniment to a wide range of dishes.
2022 Ventoux Rouge “Mégaphone”
France | Southern Rhône
Fragrant aromas of lavender and garrigue, notes of perfectly ripe black cherries, hints of black olive and stones.
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
France | Southern Rhône
This is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get.
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Télégramme”
France | Southern Rhône
This unfiltered bottling from the 2021 vintage is one of the best editions to date.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto”
France | Southern Rhône
The Férigoules have honed a unique style of Vacqueyras that mixes deep, dark color with a lightness of touch, rusticity with warmth, and minerality with delicious fresh fruit.
About The Producer
Famille Brunier
Vignobles Brunier embodies the ensemble of the holdings by the Brunier family. Brothers Frédéric and Daniel are the fourth generation of their family to farm the land of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They have worked hard to solidify the legacy left by their father, Henri, and their great-grandfather, Hippolyte. In 1986, the family complemented their portfolio, offering more affordable cuvées that showcase the diversity of terroirs within their holdings. The “Pigeoulet” and “Mégaphone” are fresh, rich in fruit and easy to appreciate young. The red Châteauneuf “Piedlong”, sourced from the Piélong lieu-dit, is a profoundly mineral wine that balances elegance and purity with the muscle that is found in this great appellation.
More from Southern Rhône or France
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vacqueyras “Un Sang Blanc”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
La Combe des Rieu France | Southern Rhône
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
Château de Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2021 Gigondas “Les Racines”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vacqueyras “Un Sang Blanc”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Contre Couleur”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Floureto”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
La Combe des Rieu France | Southern Rhône
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
Château de Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2021 Gigondas “Les Racines”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.
Inspiring Thirst, page 236