2024Côtes du Rhône Rouge 'Sierra du Sud' is produced entirely from old vines Syrah from the Gramenon estate and delivers pure, billowing aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, violet, lightly seared meat and gravel. Plush and velvety in the mouth, it has pleasing tannins and lively acidity that give it a super definition, shape and long finish. This is one of my favorite wines of all!

Gramenon is one of the great properties in the Southern Rhône. The wines have had cult status amongst collectors for many years now and due to the small production the wines are literally impossible to track down. The winery and cellar is located in a remote area of the Drôme, in the small town of Montbrison-sur-Lez.  The farm house and cellars are surrounded by rolling hills of vineyards and olive groves.  It is truly an incredible place; very relaxing, very serene.

Proprietor Michelle Aubéry has taken great efforts to reduce the amount of sulphur that is added to the wines and because she handles the grapes and wines so carefully she is able to add just the smallest amount at bottling.  Although you would think this might hinder the age ability of the wines, on the contrary, I’ve found her wines to develop and keep very well. While the wines of Gramenon may not carry revered designations like Chateauneuf-du-Pape, don’t be fooled by thinking that their Cotes-du-Rhone status makes them simple and light. These are not, in fact they are some of the most riveting and rare wines from the entire Rhone Valley.

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