2023 Gramenon Ceps Centenaires La Mémé

WINEMAKER: Michèle Aubéry & Maxime-François Laurent
REGION: Rhône, FR
VARIETY: Grenache
VITICULTURE: Biodynamic

"In December of 1978 Philippe Laurent and Michèle Aubéry-Laurent bought a barn and 12 hectares of old vines in Montbrison. Their first harvest took place in 1979 with their first cuvee being the Ceps Centenaires; it became a cult wine immediately and has been ever since. The vines that it comes from are about 130 years old these days. This wine is always extraordinarily elegant, fleeting floral aromas and gorgeous, crystal pure fruit flavours fan and dance around the senses. It's a wine that makes me wonder and also ponder - in essence though it's a beautiful wine; graceful and very very sensual. If Grenache were Pinot Noir then this would be Gramenon's Musigny " - Andrew Guard

The iconic Domaine Gramenon originates back in 1978 when Philippe Laurent and Michele Aubery-Laurent purchased 12 hectares of vines and an old barn. The first wine produced was in 1979 and was the first vintage of their now iconic and cult 'Ceps Centainaires' This original part of the domaine is located at 300 meters above sea level on a rare limestone bench. Over the years the domaine has expanded to 25 hectares by planting more vines, purchasing 4.5 hectares of plots in Vinsobres in 1999, and land in nearby Valreas in 2007 (now sold) and Taulignan in 2019. Today the estate is run by Michele Aubery and one of her children, son Maxime-Francois Laurent. The estate is officially certified Biodynamic by Demeter (since 2009) but has been farmed in a bio-organic manner since the mid 1980's. As their vineyards are isolated from others they do not have to worry about any cross-pollution from their neighbours spraying.