
Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône La Mémé 2022
Domaine Gramenon
Old-vine Grenache from Montbrison, farmed biodynamically since before it was fashionable. Michèle Aubéry-Laurent's wines consistently punch above their appellation. La Mémé — named for her grandmother — is a generous, honest Southern Rhône red that captures the stony, wind-swept terroir without manipulation.
Nose
Crushed dark berries and fresh violets rise immediately, joined by a peppery, almost garrigue-like herbal quality. A subtle earthiness and a hint of cherry pit add seriousness beneath the fruit.
Palate
Generous and juicy, with ripe blackcurrant and cherry dominating the mid-palate. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without weight, and a mineral, stony quality emerges on the back palate. There's a brightness — almost citric — that keeps everything in motion.
Finish
Medium-long with lingering berry fruit and a dry, slightly peppery close.
- Varietal
- Grenache
- Blend
- 100% Grenache
- Vineyards
- Old vines, Montbrison plateau, Côtes du Rhône
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
Food Pairing
Braised lamb shoulder with Provençal herbs
Michèle Aubéry-Laurent has farmed these old Grenache vines biodynamically on the stony plateau of Montbrison since inheriting the domaine from her late husband Philippe Laurent in 1999.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2021
Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Marc de Grazia's Terre Nere estate produces some of Etna's most expressive contrada wines, and San Lorenzo is a standout: old Nerello Mascalese vines rooted in ancient lava flows deliver a wine of rare transparency. This is not fruit-driven in the obvious sense — it is terroir speaking through fruit. Think Burgundy by way of a volcano.

Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Sola Tierra 2021
Domaine de la Côte
Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman's Sola Tierra block sits on diatomaceous earth soils that produce some of the most transparent Pinot Noir in California. This is a wine of direction rather than power — it knows exactly where it's going and arrives with grace. If you're still looking for California Pinot that can stand alongside Burgundy Premier Cru, start here.

Château Pibran Pauillac 2019
Château Pibran
Château Pibran punches well above its price in the 2019 vintage. Owned by AXA Millésimes (who also own Pichon Baron), it benefits from the same meticulous attention and top-tier terroir. The tension between ripe fruit generosity and classic Pauillac austerity makes it both immediately enjoyable and cellaring-worthy.

Luciano Sandrone Barbera d'Alba 2021
Luciano Sandrone
Sandrone's Barbera is always a masterclass in restraint and fruit purity. The 2021 vintage delivered ideal conditions in Piedmont, and this wine captures the variety's defining bright acidity alongside ripe, generous fruit. It over-performs for Barbera d'Alba — the kind of bottle that reminds you why this grape deserves a permanent place at the table, not just as Barolo's understudy.