2021 Grolleau “Franc de Pied”Bernard Baudry
France | Loire
$36
Producers
A narrow route nationale follows the meandering Drôme River east from where it flows into the Rhône, flanked on either side by hills and eventually small mountains—a precursor to the mighty Alpine peaks found not too far away. The local specialty here is Clairette de Die, a somewhat sweet Muscat crafted via the méthode Dioise ancestrale, which supposedly outdates the production of all other sparkling wines. This brut bottling, however, is a dry wine made exclusively from Clairette, crafted by the méthode traditionnelle that is also used in Champagne. With refreshing citrus and a hint of honeysuckle on the nose followed by a delicious-with-anything palate, this minerally sparkler ensures palate stimulation with every sip.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | sparkling |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Clairette |
Appellation: | Clairette de Die |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Domaine Achard-Vincent |
Winemaker: | Jean Pierre & Thomas Achard |
Vineyard: | 35 years average, 12 ha total |
Soil: | Limestone, Marl, Scree |
Farming: | Biodynamic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 11.5% |
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône | Vin de France
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône | Ventoux
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône | Gigondas
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône | Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône | Côtes-du-Rhône
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône | Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
The southern Rhône valley is Grenache country. It’s also known for its stones. With a viticulture history dating back well before the Popes arrived in the 12th century and one of France’s oldest appellations d'origine contrôlée, Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe, the southern Rhône is unquestionably one of France’s best known and premier winegrowing regions. The wines have the pedigree and age-worthiness of Burgundy and Bordeaux, but with a rustic, Mediterranean character. Like most wines from southern France, the reds, whites, and rosés are blends. Filling out the Grenache for the reds and rosés, you’ll often find Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. The common white grape varieties are Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Viognier, Roussane, and Marsanne among others. From the alluvial riverbed stones found in Lirac, Tavel, and Châteauneuf to the limestone cliffs of the Dentelles de Montmirail that influence Beaumes-de-Venise (where you’ll find excellent Muscat), Vacqueyras, and Gigondas, great terroir abounds.
Kermit’s entrance in the region came in the mid 1970s on his first trip with Richard Olney, an American ex-pat and friend of Alice Waters. On that trip, Richard introduced Kermit to the Brunier family of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Soon after, Kermit began importing the Brunier’s wines—their Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau” bottling remains a staple of our portfolio today. In the late 1990s Kermit teamed up with the Brunier family to purchase the famed Gigondas estate, Domaine Les Pallières. More than 40 years later, we now import wines from fifteen southern Rhône domaines spanning the entire area of the region.
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône | Vin de France
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône | Gigondas
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône | Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Gallety France | Southern Rhône | Côtes du Vivarais
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône | Beaumes-de-Venise
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône | Vacqueyras
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône | Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Famille Brunier France | Southern Rhône | Vin de Pays de Vaucluse
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône | Gigondas
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône | Côtes du Rhône
Domaine Les Pallières France | Southern Rhône | Gigondas
Maxime-François Laurent France | Southern Rhône | Côtes du Rhône
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.
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