2015 Domaine de la Grange des Peres Blanc, 1.5ltr

Domaine de la Grange des Pères was started in 1989 by Laurent Vaillé, who spent his first years of winemaking training under such winemaking legends as Jean-Francoise Coche-Dury and Gérard Chave. To start his own domain he found a plot of difficult-to-farm limestone in the then undistinguished L’Hérault region of Languedoc. Vaillé proceeded to turn the hard, silty soil into first-class vineyards. He grows Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Roussanne, Marsanne and Chardonnay, and his wines have a cult following. The estate makes one red and one white blend, both of which typically earn scores in the low- to mid-90s.

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”