Rating:
92
Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
A blend of Grenache and Syrah brought up in tank, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Sainte Cecile Philippe is a beautiful Southern Rhône with tons to love. Revealing a vivid yet translucent ruby, as well as a sweet nose of red and black fruits, peppery garrigue, leather, and some meaty, olive notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, terrific mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Drink this classic, complex, utterly satisfying 2022 over the coming 7-8 years. Give it an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon.
Product Description:
Domaine les Grands Bois is an independent winegrower located in Sainte Cécile les Vignes in the southern Rhone. The estate was founded in 1920 by Albert Farjon, an agricultural worker who was passionate about vines and wines. In 1935, he registered the brand, Les Grands Bois. His two sons, André and Robert, continued family tradition and ensured the longevity of the estate. In 1994, daughter and niece of winegrowers, Mireille Besnardeau, along with her husband Marc, took over the Les Grands Bois estate.
In 1997, under the guidance of Mireille and Marc, the estate developed its bottling for export sales. They restructured the vineyards in 1998, bought land in Cairanne and Rasteau, and created a new cellar. Starting with the 2011 vintage their wines are certified organic. And, in 2015, their daughter Philippine joined the family business.
Their 46 hectares of vineyards extend from Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Lagarde-Paréol, Suze la Rousse, Tulette, Cairanne, Rasteau, and Travaillan. The vines are generally planted 130 metres above sea level. The vineyards are made up of a mosaic of plots and terroirs. The soils are predominantly red clay composed of large pebbles rolled by the sea, which store heat during the day to restore it at night. The climate has Mediterranean influences with little rainfall, the Mistral winds, and an abundance of sunshine.
