Notify me
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “Il Fait Soif”
Maxime-François LaurentIl fait soif roughly translates to something like “It’s thirsty weather” or “It’s thirsty out there.” The term was coined in the 1950s by a French philosopher musing about how his countrymen viewed wine as a thirst-quenching beverage, of which one could always find a reasonable excuse to indulge.
Maxime-François Laurent has made quite the homage to that reasoning, a thirst-quenching breuvage of Grenache with a dollop of Syrah, vinified whole-cluster carbonic style, for maximum refreshment of all sorts. Maxime, whose mother, Michèle Aubéry, runs Domaine Gramenon, logically adopted the Gramenon philosophy for his own project. Having grown up around the domaine’s organically and biodynamically maintained vineyards, giving the fruit destined for his own bottlings the same attentive care was an obvious choice.
Maxime’s idyllic vineyards sit in the northern reaches of the southern Rhône Valley. There are gently rolling hills, beautifully forested where not planted in vines, and the views are sublime. This land produces fantastic Grenache, cooler and fresher than that of the flatlands, and the vinification style here fits the terroir like a glove.
Inspired by the wines of Marcel Lapierre, Maxime’s “Il Fait Soif” is made for immediate, easy-drinking pleasure. Serve it now, serve it cool. This may be our most quaffable Southern Rhône red.
—Chris Santini
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2022 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault |
Appellation: | Côtes du Rhône |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Maxime François Laurent |
Winemaker: | Michèle Aubèry-Laurent & Maxime François Laurent |
Vineyard: | 15 - 30 years, 4 ha |
Soil: | Clay, Limestone |
Aging: | Wine ages for 6 months in stainless steel cuves |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
More from this Producer or Region
2022 Tavel Rosé MAGNUM
France | Southern Rhône
This dark, autumnal rosé is a beacon of tradition in a sea of paler styles.
2021 Côtes du Vivarais “Fûts de Chêne”
France | Southern Rhône
A white wine that straddles the northern and southern Rhône.
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.
2021 Gigondas “Les Racines”
France | Southern Rhône
The palate is dense and ripe, yet wonderfully smooth and elegant. Racines seems to tap into the history of Les Pallières, the prestige and the high-toned elegance.
2021 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable”
France | Southern Rhône
An abundance of violets and velvet, amid a cooling sensation of a cold spring on a hot day.
2021 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
France | Southern Rhône
This lovely Muscat is full of fresh honeysuckle and ripe citrus fruit. Have an ice cream maker? This wine makes the best sorbet you’ll ever taste!
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
It’s a gem, and you won’t be disappointed.
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.
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 Tavel “La Combe des Rieu”
France | Southern Rhône
This bears a rich bouquet of wild strawberry, flowers, garrigue, and sweet spices, culminating in a long, stony finale.
About The Producer
Maxime François Laurent
More from Southern Rhône or France
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” HALF BOTTLE
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die Brut
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” HALF BOTTLE
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die Brut
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2021 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” MAGNUM
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de France Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171