Jean-Francois Gras
The Domaine Saint François Xavier was created in the early 20th century by François Xavier Lambert in Gigondas at the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Today, the domaine is run by the Gras family, and it is only recently that Jean-François and Christian Gras decided to bottle their own wines. The 28 hectares of vines are planted to 70% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre on the typical red alluvial clay that gives depth and richness to the wines of the area. Grapes are grown using the “lutte raisonée” methodology that limits use of interventions in the vineyards, and vinification is traditional.
The Gras brothers’ Côtes du Rhone has to be one of the best values in all of France – it’s a seriously delicious red that goes well with so many foods it is always one of my “go-to” wines. -Joshua Adler, Paris Wine Company
Wines
Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Color: Red
Farming Practice: Organic
Organic. 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre/Cinsault. Produced from vineyards in the communes of Violes and Sablet, close to Gigondas. Soils are old stony red clay alluvium. Old vines (40 years on average) with very low yields (36hl/ha). Traditional, slow fermentation and aging for 8 months in concrete tanks.