Gramenon Côtes du Rhône Blanc 'Vie on y Est' 2020

2020 Côtes du Rhône Blanc 'Vie on y Est' is produced from Viognier and a touch of Clairette and spends six months in barrel before bottling. It has a discreet and floral nose with citrus oil, flowers and mint much the same as fine Condrieu. Very pure and finer than usual in the mouth it has lovely supple texture and bright acidity. This is a complex, vibrant, elegant and bright Vie on Y Est.

About the producer: 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.

THE WINES
The fruit is fermented without sulphur using indigenous yeasts. Everything is moved by gravity, there are no pumps.  Some cuvees are aged in vat and others in old demi-muids and foudres. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration with only some cuvees receiving light amounts of sulphur. Andrew Guard Imports