Gramenon

History of Domaine Gramenon

In December 1978, Philippe Laurent and Michèle Aubéry-Laurent bought a building and twelve hectares of old vines in Montbrison-sur-Lez. The couple saw promise in neglected parcels planted with century-old vines, recognizing their exceptional quality potential where others saw only meager yields. They vinified the entire harvest in their first year, and the first bottles were released in 1979, including the now-legendary Ceps Centenaires cuvée. They embraced organic farming from the outset, more than thirty years before it became a trend.

The estate grew gradually through planting and acquisitions. In 1999, the family bought 4.5 hectares in Vinsobres. That same year, Philippe Laurent died tragically in an accident. Michèle chose to carry on alone and, vintage after vintage, became one of the Rhône Valley’s leading women winemakers, acclaimed for her wines’ increasing finesse and purity. In 2006, Maxime-François, one of her three children, joined her at the estate and also established a small-scale winemaking négociant business. In 2007, the purchase of a parcel on the high Valréas plateau brought the total area to twenty-six hectares, and the estate obtained Demeter certification. Today, Gramenon is a benchmark name in natural wine.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Gramenon

The vines are spread across three distinct geological formations in the Valréas basin, accounting for the markedly different personality of each cuvée. Around Gramenon, the soils consist of silica-rich, shell-bearing sandstone, a legacy of the sea that covered this land millions of years ago. On the Valréas plateau are sandy soils and pebbles coated with clay and sand. In Vinsobres, finally, clay and whitish marl produce more structured, deeper wines.

The altitude of 350 meters plays a defining role in the estate’s identity: it brings cool nights, preserves acidity and prevents the overripeness so common in the southern Rhône. Grenache Noir dominates the plantings, including parcels of vines more than a century old, alongside Syrah, Cinsault, white and pink Clairette, Viognier and Bourboulenc. To preserve this vine heritage, Michèle Aubéry-Laurent and her son plant vines propagated from rigorously selected massal selections. All the vines are farmed under certified biodynamic practices, without synthetic products, and the family takes this commitment further by growing its own vegetables and raising animals.

Winemaking at Domaine Gramenon

Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, with care taken to pick ripe, balanced grapes. The fruit is systematically sorted in the vineyard to ensure it remains in good condition during transport to the winery. The guiding idea is to preserve the identity of each parcel behind a cuvée. When several parcels are destined for the same wine, the fresh grapes are blended as they enter the tank to preserve as much of each parcel’s energy as possible.

Fermentation begins without any added sulfur, driven solely by native yeasts. Depending on the year and the cuvée, the wines are aged in tanks to preserve the fruit’s freshness or in previously used barrels to refine the tannins and soften wines intended for aging. No new barrels are used at the estate. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration, with a small addition of sulfites only for certain cuvées. The estate’s philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: because absolute purity is an unattainable goal, the aim is to express the terroir and the grape as faithfully as possible, without distorting either, while adapting to the effects of each vintage.

The cuvées of Domaine Gramenon

Côtes du Rhône Ceps Centenaires La Mémé: the estate’s legendary cuvée, first made in 1979 from Grenache Noir vines planted more than a century ago. Whole-cluster fermentation, long maceration and aging without new oak produce a wine of exceptional concentration, combining black cherry, garrigue and spice with an astonishingly fine tannic structure. Made in tiny quantities, it remains one of the most sought-after bottles in the southern Rhône Valley.

Côtes du Rhône La Sagesse: pure old-vine Grenache, aged longer, with a deep, contemplative character. Ripe red fruit, sweet spices and notes of garrigue, with a generous palate and a beautifully long finish. One of the estate’s great age-worthy cuvées.

Côtes du Rhône Poignée de Raisins: an introduction to the estate, blending approximately 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault. A light, thirst-quenching wine with vibrant fruit, best served slightly chilled. The ideal bottle for discovering the Gramenon style without breaking the bank.

Côtes du Rhône L'Élémentaire: an easy-drinking Grenache, made as simply as possible to let the fruit speak for itself. Supple, juicy and immediately appealing, it lives up to its name.

Côtes du Rhône Contre Couleur: an unusual cuvée combining approximately 75% Grenache with 25% white Clairette, pink Clairette and Cinsault, all co-fermented. Light in color, with a floral, spicy nose and a taut, saline palate: a distinctive red for the table with refreshing originality.

Côtes du Rhône Sierra du Sud: pure Syrah, darker and more peppery than the Grenache cuvées, with violet, black olive and dark fruit. Lovely tension and fine tannins that benefit from a few years to open up.

Côtes du Rhône L'Émouvante: the estate’s great Syrah cuvée, from its finest parcels and aged in used barrels. Depth, complexity and a silky texture, with aromas of dark fruit, smoke and Eastern spices. Its name says enough about the effect it has on the taster.

Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Laurentides: Grenache from the Valréas parcels, grown on sandy soils and pebbles. A sun-kissed yet always fresh cuvée, with ripe tannins and a spicy finish, named for the Laurent family.

Côtes du Rhône À Pascal S.: a tribute cuvée made from Grenache in very small quantities and reserved for the most loyal enthusiasts. A rare, concentrated and distinctive bottle, often cited among the estate’s finest wines.

Vinsobres La Papesse: born of Vinsobres’ clay and whitish marl, this Grenache cuvée is the most structured in the range. Dense in texture, with powerful but polished tannins and considerable aging potential.

Côtes du Rhône La Belle Sortie: a cuvée made for immediate pleasure, delicious and vibrant, designed for the everyday table. A wine to share with friends in the best sense of the phrase.

Côtes du Rhône Blanc Vie On y Est: the estate’s white, a blend of approximately 40% Viognier, 40% Clairette and 20% Bourboulenc. Aromas of apricot, white flowers and citrus lead to a palate that is both rounded and taut, with a saline finish that calls for grilled fish and goat cheese.

Côtes du Rhône Rosé Pompon: a Syrah rosé vinified like the estate’s other wines, without sulfur or artifice. Pale in color, with tart red fruit, tension and easy drinkability, it is a far cry from standardized southern rosés.

Il Fait Soif, Maxime-François Laurent: a cuvée made by the son under his own name, from his winemaking négociant business. A light, vibrant Côtes du Rhône to drink chilled, it lives up to its name.

La Rubiconde, Maxime-François Laurent: Maxime-François’s second wine under his own label, deeper and more structured than the first, regularly rated among the estate’s finest achievements.