Domaine Gramenon Côtes-du-Rhône “La Papesse” 2020
We have 6 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Perched in the northeastern reaches of the Southern Rhône, Domaine Gramenon’s vineyards lie at elevation—roughly 300 meters above sea level—on the cooler slopes of Montbrison-sur-Lez in the Drôme Provençale. The soils here are poor and stony, a mix of clay-limestone and gravel, demanding much of the vines and rewarding them with intensity and precision. This high-altitude site tempers the sun’s intensity, stretching out the growing season and preserving the natural acidity of the fruit. “La Papesse” comes from old-vine Grenache, averaging 60 years in age, rooted deep in these tough soils, where yields are low and concentration is high.
The Wine
Made from 100% Grenache, “La Papesse” is both raw and refined—a deep, earthy red with wild edges and striking purity. The 2020 vintage shows the warm season’s generosity in its ripe, black-cherry core, yet Gramenon’s hallmark restraint remains: lifted floral notes, crushed herbs, and dusty garrigue weave through the wine. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts; extraction is gentle, coaxing out texture over power. It sees no new oak—aged instead in old barrels and demi-muids—preserving the grape’s inherent transparency. Balanced by vivid acidity and a mineral, reductive thread that hums quietly through the finish.
The People
Domaine Gramenon is the life’s work of Michèle Aubéry-Laurent, who, after the sudden death of her husband Philippe in 1999, took the reins with fierce conviction and quiet intuition. With her son Maxime-François Laurent now co-leading the cellar, their wines continue to defy Southern Rhône expectations. Farming is biodynamic, bottling is without fining or filtration, and sulfur is used sparingly, if at all. Every bottle is a statement of belief: that Grenache, handled naturally and grown with respect, can express the soul of a place with unflinching honesty. “La Papesse” is among their most contemplative offerings—structured yet soulful, a wine that listens more than it speaks.
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The Rhône Valley is a diverse and historic wine region, divided into two distinct areas. The Northern Rhône is the birthplace of Syrah, with steep, terraced vineyards that produce some of the world's most revered wines, such as those from Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. The Southern Rhône is much more expansive, offering a wider range of styles, but typically based around Grenache-based blends, with wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape known for their complexity and power. While the region is celebrated for its reds, it also produces incredible textured whites, and as a whole the region displays the spectrum of French wine and the incredible differences that can come from small geographic changes.
Rhone Valley
Syrah is a dark-skinned grape of French origin, specifically from the Northern Rhône Valley, where it produces some of the world's most powerful and complex wines. Known as Shiraz in Australia, Syrah is capable of displaying a wide range of aromas and flavors. Cool climate Syrahs tend to express floral notes like violets, along with savory elements like olives, while those grown in warmer climates like Australia are more likely to show black pepper and dark fruit notes such as plum. The grape's versatility allows it to adapt to various climates and soil types, but it maintains its unique characteristics no matter where it is planted.
